PASSENGERS boarding Southwest Airlines flights will soon notice a new feature that is being rolled out to its planes.
The airline confirmed on Friday that a new security device will be implemented on its new Boeing 737s, blocking travelers from part of the plane.
Southwest Airlines’s new Boeing 737’s will have a new feature to improve safety (stock)[/caption]
The new security device is a secondary cockpit barrier that can be folded away when not in use[/caption]
Southwest has implemented a foldaway secondary cockpit barrier for the safety of the pilot and customers on board.
The new barrier had its debut on September 5 and will be rolled out across 26 planes by the end of the year.
“This requirement actually goes all the way back to Sept. 11. Following that event, it was always looking for a path to make the flight deck more secure,” Southwest Executive Vice President of Operations Justin Jones told USA TODAY.
“It’s just another layer of protection there to make sure no passengers who aren’t supposed to be in the flight deck ever get into the flight deck.”
The fold away door is fitted on the cabin side between the cockpit and the first row of passenger seats.
The makeshift barrier will be put in place by members of the crew when the pilot leaves the cockpit.
This may be to use the facilities or for any other reason.
Once the pilot has returned to the cockpit, the barrier will be stowed once again.
Jones noted that it will only be deployed for a few seconds at a time on any given flight.
It is not a new measure, but a major improvement on the former system which was to have a flight attendant block the galley with the beverage cart and their own body.
“The same procedures will be followed, but they’ll close a secure door there,” Jones told the outlet.
“Personally, I think it will be a better customer experience.”
This is because it will be more clear to passengers that a certain part of the aircraft is temporarily off limits while also improving safety.
More airlines are set to follow suit with it being brought in as a requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2023, despite being a response to the 9/11 attacks.
However, it is only going to be on planes that are brand new – there is no law or rule forcing airlines to add them to jets that are already in service.
Meanwhile, the Air Line Pilots Association says the “critical measures” should be rolled out “without delay”.
“Hardened flight deck doors were a major step forward after 9/11, but they aren’t enough,” the association says.
“Without secondary barriers on passenger aircraft flight deck security remains incomplete.”
Southwest will be one of the first US airlines to implement the security measure.
Meanwhile, it has also confirmed that certain passengers will be getting a free perk from October 24.
But, it will also be hitting certain passengers with additional costs as it rolls out a new seating policy which takes effect in January.
Passengers will start seeing the barriers on aircraft after they became a requirement on new jets in 2023 (stock)[/caption]
