Budget airline EasyJet to introduce free allocated seats on all flights

EASYJET, Scotland’s biggest airline, is to introduce free allocated seating on all its flights, as The Scotsman reported last week.

The move, from November, follows a trial on several routes, including some from Glasgow airport, which showed it did not lead to aircraft taking off late.

Passengers will be automatically allocated seats, but will continue to be able to pay for a specific seat, such as near the exits.

EasyJet said nearly three in four passengers who took part in the trial preferred allocated seating to the current free-for-all on the airline’s other flights.

The carrier indicated it hoped the new system would attract more passengers from other budget airlines, having also found that 60 per cent of those in trial were more likely to fly with EasyJet again as a result.

The change will be introduced on all Glasgow flights from 13 November and on those from Edinburgh from 27 November.

Chief executive Carolyn McCall said of the trial: “We have shown that we can do so while delivering strong on time performance – the most important driver of passenger satisfaction.”