Southwest Airlines says it is ending its cabin services earlier on its flights starting next month.
Starting Dec. 4, a company spokesman said, flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) instead of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The change in procedure is designed to “reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries” to crew members and passengers, the company said.
For passengers, this means they will have to go through the usual pre-landing procedures – such as checking that their seat belts are fastened and returning their seats to the upright position – earlier than before.
While turbulence-related deaths are quite rare, the injuries piled up over the years. More than one-third of all aviation incidents in the United States from 2009 to 2018 were related to turbulence, and most resulted in one or more serious injuries but no damage to the aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board reported.
In May, a 73-year-old man died on a Singapore Airlines flight when the plane hit severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean.
The airline also announced other changes earlier.
Starting next year, Southwest will roll out a half-century tradition of “open seating” — passengers who choose their own seats after entering the aircraft.
