WestJet pauses rollout of non-reclining seats after pushback

WestJet has put the brakes on plans to roll out non-reclining economy seats across a large portion of its narrowbody fleet, following criticism from both passengers and employees.

The Calgary-based airline confirmed it will proceed with the new seating configuration on just 22 Boeing 737 aircraft for now, down from the 43 planes originally slated for the update. 

Of those 22 aircraft, 21 have already been retrofitted.

According to an internal memo by WestJet vice-president Robert Antoniuk obtained by The Canadian Press, the airline will pause further installations while it reviews the product and gathers feedback from guests and employees.

WestJet first announced the reconfiguration plan in September, saying it would add an extra row of seats and introduce multiple fare tiers on dozens of 737s. 

READ MORE: Choice...or cash grab? The debate over WestJet’s "fixed recline” seat design

The redesign included a “fixed recline” economy seat that does not tilt backward, along with reduced legroom compared to the previous layout.

The new cabin was designed to offer a mix of higher-priced seating options — including premium seats and “extended comfort” seats with additional space — alongside more than 100 economy seats with tighter spacing and no recline.

The idea that passengers would need to pay extra to access reclining seats or additional legroom sparked backlash in recent months.

According to the Canadian Press, in an August bulletin, the WestJet component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees warned that the reduced pitch was comparable to that of ultra-low-cost carriers such as Spirit, Wizz Air and Frontier. 

The union also raised concerns about accessibility, citing challenges for travellers with mobility needs, car seats and pets, as well as limited overhead bin space despite higher passenger capacity.

The union added that the denser layout could increase onboard frustration and reduce rest opportunities for crew members commuting to work assignments.

Antoniuk’s memo said the decision to pause the rollout followed a recent Toronto–Calgary flight where representatives from the pilots’ and flight attendants’ unions travelled with company executives in the economy cabin to better understand the onboard experience.

The timing of the pause coincides with the start of the holiday travel season, when WestJet requires all available aircraft from its 189-plane fleet to meet demand.

In a statement, WestJet said the review will continue through the winter, with a potential restart of the reconfiguration program in the spring.

The original plan applied to 43 Boeing 737s, including aircraft inherited from former low-cost subsidiary Swoop Airlines, the recently integrated Sunwing Airlines and Lynx Air, which ceased operations earlier this year. 

Many of those planes did not previously feature a premium economy section.

Under the proposed layout, WestJet said it would add roughly a dozen premium seats and 36 extended comfort seats, alongside a larger number of lower-priced economy seats with reduced legroom.

At the time of the announcement, WestJet chief experience officer Samantha Taylor said the redesigned cabin was intended to appeal to a range of traveller preferences, offering both premium options and lower-cost fares.

Last year, WestJet introduced its extended comfort tier, allowing economy passengers to pay extra for more legroom, early access to overhead bins and a complimentary alcoholic drink.

The move reflects a broader trend across the airline industry, where economy cabins are becoming more compact while airlines rely more heavily on ancillary revenue, including fees for seat selection, baggage and onboard services, to boost earnings.

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