To Recline or Not Recline; WestJet’s New Cabin Refresh Grabs PEOPLE’s Attention

You know it’s big news when your story runs in PEOPLE Magazine, and that’s what’s happening with WestJet.

The leading American weekly entertainment and human-interest publication put the spotlight on the airline and its announcement they would be doing a cabin refresh that would see some seats not recline. If travellers want to pay more, they could get one.

“Through our guest user testing, half indicated they preferred a fixed recline, to avoid feeling impacted by other passengers encroaching upon their space,” a WestJet representative shared in a statement with PEOPLE. 

WestJet told PEOPLE the company will “reconfigure 43 planes — less than a third of their narrowbody fleet — including aircraft from defunct airlines Swoop, Lynx and Sunwing. The first plane is set to enter service later this month with the rest to be completed early next year.”

Back in September, WestJet announced the updates were in line with the airline’s cabin strategy, and a variety and segmentation of seating choices are designed to fit every comfort and budget level and create more options for Canadians. Ultra slim-line seats allow enough space on-board to add one seating row compared to the airline’s prior standard layout, reducing the cost per seat and helping to provide Canadians with affordable fares and optionality.

The standard seating in the Economy cabin offers choices ranging from less space at the back to more space near the front of the cabin, and upgraded seats featuring seatback contouring to maximize legroom, ergonomically designed, contoured bottom and back cushions.

“WestJet has always been a pioneer in making air travel available to Canadians, largely through keeping costs low to offer affordable airfares,” said Taylor.

“The layout for our refreshed cabin caters to our guests’ diverse preferences. Whether they opt for Premium seating with extra amenities and legroom or for more affordable ticket prices with less space, we’re excited to introduce this range of products for our guests to enjoy.”