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The airline is rolling out redesigned cabins across 43 planes, adding Premium and Extended Comfort sections while phasing out free recliners in economy.
WASHINGTON — WestJet is rolling out a major cabin refresh across its formerly economy-only aircraft, including the elimination of free recliner seats.
The Canadian airline, which services 19 states in the U.S., introduced upgraded Premium seating, expanding its popular Extended Comfort section and enhancing the overall in-flight experience with modernized cabin interiors and new amenities.
The moves are part of WestJet’s effort to offer a more cohesive guest experience across its fleet, bringing the cabins in line with those of its 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
In the next year, 43 aircraft will be remodeled to remove reclining seats from general economy sections in order to “preserve personal space.”
“Through our guest user testing, half indicated they preferred a fixed recline, to avoid feeling impacted by other passengers encroaching upon their space,” WestJet told USA Today.
Those in Premium cabins or in Extended Comfort seats will still be able to enjoy reclining seats on their flights.
Other changes include redesigned interiors, which will feature brighter, more spacious cabins with new seats, back support, adjustable headrests, in-seat power sources, phone and tablet holders and upgraded lavatories and galleys.
The new Premium section includes 12 seats modeled after those in WestJet’s 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, featuring four-way adjustable headrests, reclining seats and contoured seat cushions.
Just behind Premium, the Extended Comfort section in economy will expand to 36 seats with extra legroom and a dedicated cabin divider.
“The cabin has been thoughtfully designed to offer WestJet’s welcoming service at every budget,” Samantha Taylor, WestJet’s executive vice-president and chief experience officer said. “It reflects our commitment to elevating every aspect of the travel experience and meeting guest demand for a broader range of product offerings.”
In Canada, economy travelers will also have more seating choices, with ultra-slim seat designs allowing WestJet to add one extra row to each aircraft, lowering the cost per seat and helping maintain affordable fare options.
“Whether they opt for Premium seating with extra amenities and legroom or for more affordable ticket prices with less space, we’re excited to introduce this range of products for our guests to enjoy,” Taylor added.
WestJet Rewards members and employees helped test seat prototypes in 2023, and a full mock-up was reviewed in summer 2025 to shape the rollout.
The airline is also expanding its internet connection with WestJet Wi-Fi presented by TELUS, offering high-speed, low-latency internet that supports streaming and browsing at ground-level speeds. Wi-Fi is free for WestJet Rewards members and is expected to be available on all Boeing 737-800 and MAX-8 aircraft by the end of the year.
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