TAMPA, Fla. (NewsNation) — Southwest Airlines has taken its next steps in safety measures for its aircraft.

The airline has introduced a fold-away barrier that can prevent fliers from entering the front galley adjoining the flight deck if a pilot needs to open the cockpit. Flight attendants will be required to deploy the barrier when a pilot exits the cockpit for bathroom use or other matters.

The company completed its first flight with the secondary barrier Aug. 29.

“This requirement actually goes all the way back to Sept. 11. Following that event, it was always looking for a path to make the flight deck more secure,” said Justin Jones, Southwest Airlines’ executive vice president of operations.

Southwest Airlines acknowledged that it is one of the first U.S. carriers to implement the new barrier onboard. The airline’s previous protocol mandated that flight attendants stand and face the cabin while a beverage cart was used to block passengers from coming towards the galley.
The development comes two years after the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would require the barriers on all new commercial airplanes. The initial requirement was set to begin last month, but the FAA has changed course and extended its deadline to outfit new aircraft by 2026.

Southwest Airlines anticipates having over 25 aircraft fitted with the device in service by the end of 2025.

The airline will soon require travelers who don’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance early next year.