Southwest Airlines has partnered with Tangerine, a design firm specializing in transportation, to create an updated cabin interior for new aircraft deliveries starting next year. The design is based on research covering customer and staff perceptions onboard and to maximize enger numbers.
As part of this upgrade, customer research and product testing guided Southwest to select RECARO to provide the seats.
Recaro
The new banks, called Recaro BL3710, should debut on Boeing 737 Max 8 models in 2025. In short, the seats are covered in artificial leather and have a thin cushion in the front. The trend is to introduce thinner seats to maximize cabin space and, consequently, add more engers on board.
Therefore, the Recaro BL3710 seats, which will be installed on Southwest aircraft, are designed to take up as little space as possible. Likewise, like most modern economy seats, the in-flight entertainment system has been removed from the back and replaced with a “personal device holder.” Therefore, the is just a higher tray to place a smartphone or tablet.
Additionally, the three rows are essentially bench seats to maximize width, going from 17 inches to 17,8 inches. Generally speaking, US business space standards are measured in inches.
“Southwest flies above our competition with industry-leading flexibility and our legendary hospitality,” said Tony Roach, senior vice president and chief customer officer, Southwest Airlines. “Our redesigned cabin interior significantly improves our onboard customer experience.”
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