A shift away from open seating is expected to begin in the second half of next year, Southwest said. DALLAS — Southwest Airlines on Thursday unveiled the first details of its plans to begin assigning seats, update its boarding process and add new “premium” extra-legroom seats on its planes.

Southwest Airlines raised its third-quarter revenue forecast on Thursday and detailed a host of changes to its business model.

As its current leadership fights off an activist investor that want to overturn management, the airline braces for a transformation.

Southwest Airlines is planning to reduce service to and from Atlanta next year, cutting more than 300 pilot and flight attendant positions, according to a company memo seen by CNBC.

Southwest will not eliminate its Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport crew base, but said it will need less staff there to operate the set cuts.