The security forces behind Southwest Airlines are halting in-flight service early

November 30 (UPI) – Southwest Airlines is suspending in-flight service earlier than before to reduce the risk of injury to cabin crew.

The Dallas-based budget airline confirmed news this week that its cabin crew will stop duty and begin preparations for landing when flights reach an altitude of 18,000 feet.

The rule change is expected to take effect on Wednesday.

Southwest flight crews had previously begun landing preparations at 10,000 feet.

The change is intended to increase safety for the airline’s cabin crew and reduce the risk of turbulence-related injuries. This means that the seats must be in an upright position, the storage tables must be locked and luggage must be stowed away earlier.

“The change in procedures is intended to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence-related injuries to our crew members and customers. It is the result of the airline’s close collaboration with its labor partners and a robust approach to safety management,” Southwest said in a statement to USA TODAY.

“Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and employees.”

The 53-year-old airline operates more than 800 aircraft consisting entirely of various variants of the Boeing 737, making it the fourth-largest commercial fleet in the world.

Turbulence on board flights has attracted widespread public attention, although the airline did not say it was making the change in response to a specific incident.

“Analysis of thousands of data points from flight attendant and pilot reports coupled with information from the Flight Data Analysis Program confirmed that earlier seating of our flight attendants should reduce flight attendant injuries by at least 20%,” Southwest said in an internal memo to employees, received from View From The Wing.

“Inflight and Flight Ops will confirm the effectiveness of these new procedures and if we do not achieve the desired result, we will continue to look for solutions. We also aim to provide regular updates on these results.”

In July, several passengers were injured during “severe” turbulence on board an Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay.

The following month, a United Airlines flight was forced to divert and make an emergency landing in Tennessee after turbulence over Louisiana injured seven people.