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Southwest Airlines ends open seating, introduces redeye flights
DALLAS – Big changes are coming to Southwest Airlines.
The Dallas-based airline announced Thursday it is putting an end to its open seating policy, will begin offering premium seating and is introducing redeye flight options.
The airline said the changes are the next step in a “continuing strategic transformation” and are designed to “elevate the customer experience.”
According to research conducted by Southwest, 80% of customers and 86% of potential customers said they prefer an assigned seat.
In addition to assigning seats, Southwest will offer premium, extended legroom portions of plane cabins. One-third of seats will offer the extended option.
Southwest will sell tickets for redeye flights starting Thursday. The first overnight flights will land on Valentine’s Day next year in five initial nonstop markets: Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore. Southwest said it plans to phase in additional redeye flying.
The announcement came as Southwest reported that its second-quarter profit dropped to $367 million — down 46% from a year earlier.
Airlines are grappling with reduced pricing power while facing higher costs as flights are being added faster than growth in demand for travel.
Ryan Green, previously the executive vice president and chief commercial officer, will take on the new role of executive vice president of commercial transformation to lead the development of the Southwest initiatives.
President and CEO of Southwest, Bob Jordan, said the changes are part of “a comprehensive upgrade to the Southwest experience.”
“Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the company,” Jordan said in a news release about the changes. “Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice— at the right time—for our customers, our people, and our shareholders. We are excited to incorporate customer and employee feedback to design a unique experience that only Southwest can deliver.”
These changes come after mounting pressure from Elliott Management to boost profits. The hedge fund has called on the airline to enhance its board of directors, upgrade leadership and take a comprehensive business review.
In May, the airline began listing airfares on Google Flights, making it easier for travelers to compare their options on a single dashboard.
A Southwest spokesperson said the move, which the carrier said it’s testing, broadens its reach with consumers while allowing the company to retain control of the booking process.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Mark Robinson, North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate, treated for burns, campaign says
Embattled Republican North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — whose gubernatorial bid has been rattled by allegations that he previously posted racist and sexually explicit comments online — was hospitalized with burns Friday, his campaign said.
Mike Lonergan, a campaign spokesperson, told CBS News in a statement late Friday night that the 56-year-old Robinson was “currently being treated for burns following an incident at a campaign event in Mt. Airy.”
Lonergan added that Robinson was in “good spirits,” but did not provide any further details on his condition or the circumstances that prompted.
A source close to the campaign told CBS News that Robinson had been hospitalized.
This follows a bombshell CNN report last week which found that Robinson posted inappropriate comments to the message board of a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012, often under the name of “black NAZI.”
Since the report’s publication on Sept. 19, Robinson has seen several campaign staffers resign, including his campaign manager, general consultant and senior adviser, finance director, and deputy campaign manager. He has also appeared to lose support among the Republican leadership.
Robinson has not appeared in the two North Carolina rallies Trump has held since the CNN report. And when asked Thursday by reporters if he would pull his endorsement for Robinson, Trump responded, “I don’t know the situation.”
When asked Tuesday if Republicans should halt support for Robinson’s campaign, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell responded, “It won’t surprise to you know I’m happy that there’s not a Senate race in North Carolina.”
Robinson, however, has so far vowed to stay in the race.
“This is an election about policies, not personalities,” he wrote on social media Wednesday. “Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense.”
Kaia Hubbard and
contributed to this report.
CBS News
Helene blamed for over 40 deaths; millions without power
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