Photo: WESTJET This is how you protest. Canadian airline WestJet announced this week that it will update the cabin configuration on some of its planes, after reviewing "operational data and feedback from guests and WestJetters".
As part of the move, the company will restore standard seat pitch in economy class on recently overcrowded planes by removing one row of seats.
It should be noted that, in the past two months, articles have been published around the world, including harsh criticism of WestJet's move, which also eliminated the reclining seat in some seats and, as mentioned, added a row that "made the overcrowding on the planes unbearable" according to the passengers whose capacity went up from 174 to 180.
Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKAn official statement from WestJet Group's CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, the company "tried seat pitches that are popular with many airlines around the globe as they serve to provide affordable airfares."
“As an entrepreneurial airline founded on making air travel affordable to Canadians, it’s in our DNA to try new products. At the same time, it is just as important to react quickly if they don’t meet the needs of our guests,” von Hoensbroech added.
The company paused its reconfiguration plans last month, planning to complete the evaluation of the new interior layout by mid-February. Now, the airline is working to address feedback and offer "clarity sooner".
On Monday, January 19, 2026, WestJet launched a new service from Calgary to Sao Paulo, marking its 100th non-stop destination from the Canadian city.