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Southwest Airlines turns to designated and premium seats to lift profits

Southwest Airlines on Thursday announced sweeping modifications, including plans to end open seating and offer seats with additional legroom on its airplanes as it deals with pressure from an activist financier to improve financial outcomes.

The move marks a significant shift far from its conventional business design and came together with its second-quarter revenues, which topped Wall Street price quotes.

Southwest's shares were down 6% in premarket trading.

The Dallas-based airline company is under pressure from activist investor Elliott Financial investment Management, which has actually cautioned of a

proxy fight

to push for leadership modifications.

The company anticipates the modifications to enhance monetary performance. It prepares to share more details at its investor day in September.

Southwest said it research reveals that 80% of its clients, and 86% of prospective customers prefer an assigned seat.

It also has strategies to provide premium, extended legroom seats, which will account roughly one-third of seats across its fleet.

We are taking immediate and intentional steps to alleviate near-term revenue challenges, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said on Thursday.

U.S. providers

have actually been reporting strong demand for high-margin premium cabins.

Alaska Airlines last week stated it would add 1.3 million premium seats annually to its mainline fleet.

Southwest reported second-quarter adjusted revenue of 58 cents per share, about half of what it reported a year previously, however managed to beat experts' average quote of 51 cents per share, according to LSEG information.

It reported a 3.8% year-on-year decrease in unit revenue in the quarter, pointing out excess industry-wide domestic capacity. It expects third-quarter unit income to be flat to down 2%.

The airline has actually been struck hard by Boeing's jet delivery hold-ups and is reeling from raised business expenses, consisting of high aircraft upkeep costs, as it keeps older planes in the air.

Southwest said it was in conversations with Boeing about the unfavorable monetary effect it faces from the postponed shipment.

(source: Reuters)