WestJet says passenger feedback has led the airline to reverse its plan to reduce legroom on some planes.
The airline had tested a new cabin layout that added more seats by shrinking legroom to 28 inches. After hearing complaints from travellers and reviewing flight data, WestJet decided to return to its standard economy seating.
WestJet says it will remove one row of seats from recently reconfigured Boeing 737 planes, changing them from 180 seats back to 174, once engineering approval is complete.
CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline was trying to keep fares affordable but moved quickly when the changes did not meet passenger needs.
The Calgary-based airline paused the changes in December and sped up its review after strong backlash. Some passengers and flight attendants raised safety and comfort concerns, and a video showing the tight seating went viral.
WestJet says it will keep reviewing other cabin changes while continuing upgrades aimed at improving the passenger experience.
