Southwest Airlines is making changes, first it removed free luggage, now they also want to eliminate direct flights… But now they have changed something inside their planes, a secondary folding bar in their new Boeing 737. What for? You may ask, well to prevent anyone from approaching the cockpit (yes, like in the movies where someone bangs on the captain’s door). The system was first seen on September 5 and there will be 26 aircraft that will have it before the end of the year.
Why this change?
This requirement came up after September 11, after that catastrophic event any extra security measure seems too little… So, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) approved in 2023 the installation of this bar in newly manufactured planes, although it will not be mandatory to install it on planes that are not new.
“It is another layer of protection to ensure that no passenger who should not be in the cockpit can enter it” Justin Jones, Executive Vice President of Operations at Southwest
How the new barrier works
The folding barrier is located between the cockpit and the first row of passengers, it is deployed only when the pilot or copilot must leave the cockpit, for example, to use the bathroom or perform some task in the aisle, so that area is protected. Once the pilot has returned to the cockpit, it will be stored again.
Improves the previous system
Before this measure, security depended on a flight attendant who blocked the aisle with a drinks cart and their own physical presence… Obviously not the best option, now with the barrier there is at least a clear layer of protection that limits access to the cockpit (and without putting anyone at risk).
“It is an improvement both for safety and for the passenger experience, since it is clearer when an area of the plane is temporarily restricted” Jones
A change with historical background
As we said, when we talk about onboard security, any option put on the table is good, and there have been several incidents (added to 9/11) that have made airlines want to reinforce the access doors to the pilots, and although until now it was not enough, it seems that with this barrier everything is clearer and more protected, we hope!
The Air Line Pilots Association has welcomed Southwest’s decision, calling it “critical” and asking that it be applied without delay in all companies. For them, the installation of secondary barriers is the necessary complement to fully shield the cockpit.
Southwest, pioneer in the U.S.
Southwest will be one of the first airlines to apply the change in a real way. Other U.S. companies will also have to do it in their new planes, but the pace will depend on the deliveries made by the manufacturers.
Mass implementation may take years, but the decision sets a precedent and reflects the direction the industry will follow: more layers of security to protect crew and passengers.
Southwest and its changes
What began as an ordinary airline is advancing rapidly making a place for itself in the big league. There is no more free luggage, and they will probably also eliminate some direct flights to focus their operations, but for now, they are leading in terms of security!
Reinforced security for a demanding market
The installation of these folding barriers not only responds to a regulatory requirement, but also to the concern of passengers about air safety, we are increasingly aware of what it means to fly on a plane, and of how important it is, above all, to fly calmly!
Read more about Southwest Airlines here.