Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service early to reduce the chance of injuries

Southwest Airlines says it will end cabin service early on its flights starting next month.

Beginning Dec. 4, flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) instead of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), a company spokesman said. The procedure change is intended to “reduce the risk of injury from turbulence” for crew and passengers, the company said.

For passengers, this means they will have to complete routine pre-boarding procedures, such as checking seat belts are fastened and returning seats to an upright position, earlier than before.

Although turbulence-related deaths are quite rare, injuries have accumulated for many years. More than a third of all U.S. airline accidents from 2009 to 2018 involved turbulence, and most resulted in one or more serious injuries but no damage to the aircraft. This was reported by the National Transportation Safety Board..

In May, a 73-year-old man died on board a Singapore Airlines flight when the plane encountered severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean.

The airline previously announced other changes.

Starting next year, Southwest will throw out half a century open seating tradition — passengers choose their own seats after boarding the plane.