Southwest Airlines begins using planes with secondary cockpit barrier

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00:00The airline with the famous slogan, Want to Get Away?, is now showcasing a new safety feature,

00:06one that traces back to the aftermath of 9-11. Southwest Airlines began flying planes equipped

00:11with the technology over the Labor Day weekend. It's a fold-away retractable gate that blocks

00:20access to the cockpit when pilots step out, like to use the restroom. Flight attendants can quickly

00:25deploy the barrier, then retract it once the pilot returns and the cockpit door is closed.

00:32Southwest spokesman Lynn Lunsford told Straight Arrow News, quote,

00:35For Southwest, this was the right decision. We have a robust safety management system

00:40that takes a proactive approach when it comes to enhancing safety wherever possible.

00:45By year's end, Southwest expects to have more than two dozen planes with the barrier installed.

00:51Lunsford says flight attendants and pilots have already been trained to use it.

00:55Currently, most airlines rely on the flight attendants to block the front aisle with a

01:00beverage cart when the cockpit door is open. In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated

01:06secondary barriers for all new aircraft, but older planes do not have to be retrofitted.

01:11Southwest confirmed, quote,

01:13Every new aircraft we take delivery of will come off the line with this new feature installed,

01:18adding another layer of protection. The Airline Pilots Association has long called for stronger

01:24safety measures like this to protect both crews and passengers. For more unbiased updates,

01:29download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com.