Southwest Airlines presented a thorough transformation plan, but failed to impress main shareholder and most vocal critic of current management

Representatives with Elliott Investment Management, the Florida-based hedge fund that has accumulated a 11% stake in Southwest Airlines and pushed for leadership changes, said the plan shared with shareholders represented "another promise of a better tomorrow from the same people who have created the problems we face today.

Southwest Airlines plans to start using assigned seating on planes in the first half of 2026 — one of many upcoming changes the company will roll out in attempt to improve the customer experience and profits,

Assigned seats could be coming to Southwest Airlines as soon as next year. The carrier said it expects to start selling tickets with seat assignments in the second half of 2025, with the first of those flights operating in the first half of 2026,

Southwest Airlines executives have unveiled their vision for turning the carrier into an airline that gives passengers assigned seats, charges them extra for more legroom and offers red-eye flights but bags still fly free.

Southwest Airlines executives on Thursday outlined for Wall Street their vision to boost profits: extra legroom seats starting in 2026, assigned seating, international partnerships and overnight flights.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) is shaking things up to turn its fortunes around, announcing that its new assigned-seating flights will begin in the first half of 2026.

Southwest Airlines has unveiled its plan that gives passengers assigned seats, charges extra for more legroom and offers red-eye flights — but bags still fly free.