ALPA President Urges Other Airlines to Follow Southwest's Lead on Secondary Barriers

WASHINGTON—Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), today released the following statement in response to Southwest Airlines becoming the first major air carrier to implement secondary flight deck barriers:

"Southwest Airlines took a pivotal step towards advancing aviation safety and security by becoming the first major air carrier to begin deploying secondary flight deck barriers following the 2018 Congressional mandate. I urge other airlines to follow Southwest’s example and move expeditiously to utilize these life protecting devices.”

In July, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a one-year delay in implementing mandatory flight deck secondary barriers, pushing the compliance date back to July 31, 2026. The original date of compliance, as required by the FAA Final Rule, was August 2025. Before the delay was announced, Airlines for America (A4A) was a leading voice in petitioning the FAA to postpone the compliance date by two years. Southwest’s actions make clear that the extension was unnecessary and that meeting the previous deadline was possible if securing the flight deck is an airline’s priority.

“As we approach the 24th anniversary of 9/11, when terrorists used commercial airliners to carry out their deadly attacks on America, we should stop debating and foot-dragging. There is no need to wait yet another year to begin to utilize secondary flight deck barriers, as Southwest has shown. Do the right thing for the safety and security of the flying public and our flight crews. No more excuses.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org