One of the most satisfying aspects of my job is to work alongside my colleagues to plan and execute exciting major companywide strategic initiatives. I’m pleased to report significant progress that we’ve made recently on one of these, which is a fleet modernization plan to ensure that we maintain a safe, efficient, and Customer-friendly fleet. Last month, we made a huge announcement regarding the evolution of our planes with the 737 MAX expected to join the Southwest fleet in 2017. Today, we have more big news regarding the interior of our Boeing 737-700s. Allow me to introduce you to EVOLVE: The New Southwest Interior, an eco-friendly, cost-efficient new look for our cabin with an emphasis on
comfort and personal space.
We will begin retro-fitting our Boeing 737-700 aircraft with the new interior this March, and we expect to have that done by the end of next year (2013).
EVOLVE will maximize the space inside our planes, and grants us the opportunity to increase the number of seats on board from 137 to 143, without sacrificing the Customers' personal space. In fact, sleeker seats will provide additional space under each seat for carryon luggage and approved pet carriers. To be clear, it was never our objective to add a row of seats, and the extra row isn't the main reason for this redesign. Once we examined how much space would be saved, it was determined we could accommodate the increase, without sacrificing comfort.
Remember the Green Plane? The materials tested on the Green Plane are being incorporated into the Evolve interior. Each seat is lighter by nearly six pounds, which adds up to a savings of 635 pounds per aircraft (even with the extra row) and is expected to result in more than $10 million in ongoing annual cost savings. The new seats are made using E-Leather, an eco-friendly, lightweight, and scuff resistant alternative to traditional leather. E-Leather is made from natural leather fiber that is upgraded and combined with a high performance core utilizing eco-friendly technology. The seat cover is manufactured by Irvin Automotive of Pontiac, MI, and they produce high quality covers quickly and at a much lower cost than our current manufacturer.
The new design also makes the bottom cushion lighter and more comfortable. These seats are better for your back, and provide better lumbar support.
We're also installing a fixed wing headrest on each seat that will provide for a more relaxing experience, especially if you decide to take a snooze.
We've replaced the seatback pocket with a netted pocket that's not only more form-fitting to the seat which allows for more knee room, but also makes it easier to see what items have been stowed in it.
Additionally, we're rolling out some new carpet… well, quite the opposite actually. Completely recyclable, carbon-neutral carpet will be laid in squares, rather than rolls, which eliminates the need for total carpet replacement. The new carpet will reduce labor and material costs and is fully recyclable at the end of its life-cycle.
Under the seat, we're replacing our current life vest pouches with lighter, more environmentally-friendly pouches. This is also one of the main reasons you'll have more space under your seat: each pouch is smaller and about one pound lighter.
As you can see, the redesign is inspired by Southwest's past with a nod to its future (and our commitment to being a Green Company). Natural, earthy tones combined with our Canyon blue and clean, aluminum accents give our Red Bellies a more modern, fresh appeal.
So about those extra seats: we hope to start making those additional seats for sale on southwest.com here by the end of the first quarter, for travel in the second quarter. Of course, this isn't as easy as flipping a switch; we will gradually introduce those extra seats into the system as newly retro-fitted planes come online. Needless to say, we’re excited to EVOLVE our cabin experience!
Hope you enjoy this 360-degree tour of EVOLVE:
As always, thanks for flying on Southwest!
Comments
instead of adding a row of seats why don't you give us a little more room and space the seats out a little better. I can't even pull my laptop bag from under the seat in front of me to work on the plane becasue there isn't enough room with my legs there and I'm only 6' tall, not short but not that tall. That's my only real complaint about Southwest, the space is just too crowded, my knees basically hit the seat in front of me and if the seat in front goes back with my tray open it's in my chest and I can't even have my laptop open then if I find a way to get it out. Just a thought but more room would be much better than more seats. I have many collegues that have went to other airlines now because of it and this last trip that I took last week almost made me do the same because I felt like a sardine and the work that I wanted to do could not get done because I was in a window seat and could not get my laptop out from under the seat without making the two people next to get out of their seats.
Has the seat width changed and will it be standardized across the fleet?
Instead of increasing the number of seats, couldn't you have increased the amount of "personal space" as you call it? I call it leg room. I hate that going green equates with drab brown colors.
Who are you kidding? More seats, same plane=got to be cramming us in.
Southwest, I have always been an avid fan of Southwest. I love your employee owner philosophy, which I believe results in the best service.
One thing I wish seat designers would consider is the way the seats thrust a persons head forward in an unnatural position. I believe that in an effort to protect necks from injury in case of accidents designers have designed the head rests in cars and airplanes to have the heads too far forward of the shoulders. This is very uncomfortable and not a healthy position for the neck. It might help with whiplash in accidents, but it makes it almost impossible to relax your neck for the hours you travel.
It looks like your new seats do the same thing. I sure wish someone would look into this for the future.
Keep on with your great service!
The skinny and hard arm rests put my arms to sleep . Wish they could invent a solution to the battle for arm rest with fellow passengers.
One of the reasons I like Southwest is I get more legroom. I certainly hope this will not take that away. I also wish you would remove the recline option. There is no room in today's aircraft for a recline option due to the lack of legroom. People are very rude to recline a seat into someone's face. I never do, but I always get someone who does, usually a short person who doesn't need the extra room.
Sorry, don't believe these seats are spacious. They look narrow and with little leg room. Stop trying to make a purse out of a sow's ear, please.
Is it true that the seat width has decreased?
Looks like I will be taking my 100+ flights this year to JetBlue. At least they figured out that people need more legroom. Southwest has a great opportunity to revise their very expensive business select program by keeping the Business Class Seciton like on AirTran but they won't. I am an A-List Preferred customer and Southwest gives me free internet for my loyalty. THe only problem with that is I have only been on one (1) pleane in the last year that had internet. I am glad for the employees of Southwest that they are the best paid in the industry but management needs to figure out that with all of these non necessary cuts in service, people will begin to go back to the other carriers that have figured out they need to do a little more. By the way, who's brillant idea was it to install internet on planes when you can barely open a laptop unless you are in the exit row? Free Bags...I never check luggage so that is not a perk, No Change Fee...I hardley ever have to change a flight so Southwest really doesn't help my bottom line. Now you are adding another row on the plane instead of giving something back to your loyal customers. I agree with all of your other posters that there is no reason that business travelers should fly Southwest..much less across the country.