WestJet is cancelling a new seat configuration that squeezed an extra row on board many of its planes and left passengers with less legroom. In a message to staff obtained by The Canadian Press, the airline's vice-president of inflight operations says executives made the costly decision to return the cabins to their previous layout following feedback from employees and customers amid a major backlash to the tighter arrangement.
Frequent WestJet flyer Alexandra West said in an interview with CBC News that she first noticed she couldn't comfortably fit in their economy seats last year. "I used to love WestJet because I would buy their economy tickets, and I would have about two inches of clearance in front of my knee. So it was comfortable. It was just fine," West, who is a veterinarian living in central Alberta, said. "But now, I cannot sit in those seats with my legs straight forward."
A WestJet plane operating from Toronto made a "hard landing" at an airport in the Caribbean country of St. Maarten, the airline said on Sunday. The airline said all passengers and crew were evacuated from WestJet flight 2276 after the plane arrived at Princess Juliana International Airport. The landing activated the plane's slides and emergency responders deployed foam as a precaution. WestJet said there were no reported injuries.
