Airline Companies Are Now Adding Extra Barriers To Protect Cockpit

[Conservative Angle]

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Next time you fly on Southwest, you may notice an extra layer of protection outside of the cockpit.

Southwest Airlines is introducing a secondary barrier of protection outside of the cockpit.

The move by Southwest comes 25 years after 9/11.

CBS reported more details on the new layer of protection:

It’s been nearly 25 years since 9/11, when terrorists hijacked commercial jetliners and turned them into weapons of mass destruction. Now, after years of delays, new secondary barriers protecting airline cockpits are beginning to take flight.

Inside a Southwest Airlines hangar at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, CBS News was given an early look at the airline’s brand-new Boeing 737 MAX with the secondary barrier.

It’s essentially a retractable folding door that blocks off the front galley and flight deck. It aims to be a more secure option than flight attendants blocking the area with a beverage cart.

“This is kind of the latest edition to provide an additional layer of protection anytime our pilots need to come out of the flight deck,” Southwest Executive Vice President of Operations Justin Jones told CBS News.

After 9/11, cockpit doors were fortified, and in 2018, Congress mandated that all new airliners have secondary barriers. After years of delays, that regulation is set to go into effect next year.

Captain Dennis Tajer, the spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which is American Airlines’ pilot union, said the barriers need to be on every airliner.

Take a look:

After years of delays, new secondary barriers protecting airline cockpits are beginning to take flight. Inside a @SouthwestAir hangar at @PHXSkyHarbor we were given an early look at the airline's brand-new Boeing 737 MAX w/the barrier via @CBSEveningNews: pic.twitter.com/4ucymWubhD

— Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) September 3, 2025

Another angle:

Southwest Airlines began Friday flying its first aircraft with a secondary barrier to the flight deck designed to prevent intrusions.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 which was delivered in recent days – took off Friday afternoon from Phoenix to Denver, the airline said.

Secondary barriers… pic.twitter.com/QR2btZGfd3

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) August 30, 2025

CNN reported more details on the move by Southwest:

“For Southwest, this was the right decision,” the airline said in a statement. “We have a robust safety management system that takes a proactive approach when it comes to enhancing safety wherever possible.”

Southwest said “every new aircraft” it takes delivery of will come with the barrier installed. There is currently not a certified method of adding the barriers to existing planes, however Southwest says it remains in communication with Boeing and the FAA.

Airlines currently use procedures like blocking the aisle at the front of the plane with a beverage cart when pilots need to open the door and exit the cockpit.

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