Southwest Airlines introduces new security barriers on aircraft

• Southwest Airlines has become the first US carrier to debut a new retractable security barrier on a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.
• The secondary barrier, which made its inaugural flight last Friday from Phoenix to Denver, is deployed by flight attendants to secure the cockpit when pilots take breaks.
• Currently, beverage carts are used as barriers, with crew also physically blocking the aisles.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated the installation of these physical secondary barriers on all new aircraft, with airlines having until August 2026 to comply.
• Southwest anticipates having 26 planes in its fleet equipped with these barriers by the end of the year, a move strongly supported by the Air Line Pilots Association International.

IN FULL

Southwest Airlines debuts new gadget to keep bad guys out of the cockpit