Airline ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injuries

Southwest Airlines to Change Cabin Service Procedures

Southwest Airlines recently announced a change in its cabin service procedures that will come into effect starting from December 4th. The airline will be ending its cabin service earlier on its flights in an effort to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries for both crew members and passengers. Flight attendants will now begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 5,486 meters, as opposed to the previous altitude of 3,048 meters.

This change means that passengers will need to complete their pre-landing procedures earlier than usual. They will be required to ensure that their seatbelts are fastened and return their seats to an upright position at the higher altitude. While turbulence-related fatalities are rare, injuries from turbulence incidents have been a concern. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that more than one-third of all airline incidents in the United States between 2009 and 2018 were turbulence-related, resulting in serious injuries but no damage to the aircraft.

In a separate incident, a 73-year-old man tragically lost his life on a Singapore Airlines flight due to severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean. Southwest Airlines is also making other changes, including discontinuing the long-standing tradition of “open seating” where passengers could choose their own seats after boarding the plane. This change is set to take effect next year.