May 31, 2017

Southwest Testing Faster Deplaning Process at San Jose, Sacramento Airports

In the future, travelers on Southwest Airlines flights may wait half as long as they currently do to get off a plane.
In an attempt to alleviate one of the most inconvenient things about flying, the airline is testing the process of dual-door deplaning at both the Mineta San Jose International Airport and the Sacramento International Airport, as NBC Bay Area reports. The effort has already been successful at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport.

Dual-door deplaning allows passengers to exit a plane from doors at both the front and rear of the plane.

The testing was initially planned to last for two weeks beginning on June 1, but Southwest has reportedly begun testing the new deplaning process on some flights already.

Southwest Airlines has provided SFGATE the following comment:

Dual door operations have been implemented at a select number of our Southwest locations, including SMF, SJC, and BUR, and has proven successful in improving both on time performance as well as the Customer experience. The Dual Door Deplaning project focuses on just the deplaning process. To understand what resources and processes need to be in place to truly maximize utilization of Dual Door Deplaning we are launching a two-week test period starting on June 1 at SMF and SJC. During these two weeks, we will deplane as many inbound flights as possible through both available left side passenger doors. Duel door deplaning will involve one gate exit and one tarmac exit. The two-week project will help us determine when to use dual door deplaning, and to identify whether or not this process can be expanded to more airports across our network.


Copyright 2017 Hearst Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. From http://www.sfgate.com. By Alyssa Pereira, SFGATE.

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