Southwest Airlines plans to transition from open seating to assigned seating due to 80% customer preference.

Southwest Airlines plans to shift from its long-standing open seating model to an assigned seating system, responding to customer preference—80% favor assigned seats. This decision follows a 2006 test of the WILMA boarding method, which showed a 20% increase in boarding speed. Despite initial concerns about brand impact, the airline is now reconsidering assigned seating as competitors benefit financially from such arrangements. Further details will be announced soon.