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2w ago

Southwest Starts Flying 737 MAX 8s With FAA-Mandated Secondary Cockpit Barriers

The carrier plans about two dozen barrier‑equipped jets by year’s end, diverging from rivals that are waiting for the FAA’s 2026 compliance date.

Southwest Airlines’ newest jets are now flying with a barrier that can protect the cockpit when pilots need to open the door during flight.
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Southwest Airlines’ newest jets are now flying with a barrier that can protect the cockpit when pilots need to open the door during flight.

Overview

  • Southwest’s first Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a retractable secondary cockpit barrier entered revenue service on Aug. 29 on a Phoenix–Denver flight.
  • The barrier is a fold‑away gate in the forward galley that flight attendants deploy for brief periods whenever the cockpit door is opened in flight.
  • Southwest says every new delivery will include the barrier and expects roughly 25–26 equipped aircraft in service by the end of 2025 as crews receive training on the new procedure.
  • A 2023 FAA rule requires secondary barriers on newly manufactured passenger jets, and the agency granted airlines until mid‑2026 to put them into operation, a timeline most major carriers intend to use.
  • Boeing and Airbus have begun delivering aircraft with the feature, retrofit options for existing fleets are not yet FAA‑certified, and airlines have relied on beverage carts or crew to block the aisle until now.