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
"Sleeker seats!" Sounds like you've joined the political and advertising spinmeisters in an effort to obscure what you're doing. As my English teachers taught, sleek might be a good word to describe something one looks at or where aerodynamic issues are important, but it is not a helpful description for what one sits on! Like the others who have posted I'll wait and see. Most airline seats today have way too little padding for comfort. This change is particularly worrisome because Southwest has cut the number nonstop and direct flights on my routes so I have to sit much longer to get where I want to go than I would on a rival airline.
The new seat arrangement simply means we have less leg room, no matter how you make it sound. Why can't Southwest just INCREASE leg room when they re-design without adding a row? Why do all airlines are so greedy to make more money instead of giving passenger comfort a little consideration. If you do that you will earn life time loyal passengers.
I understand that seat pitch is being reduced by 1". As someone who is 6'4", this concerns me.
I have just read screens and screens of comments. First, the SWA response of try it first and then let us know what you think is a bit late to change the layout. Second, SWA should add up the legroom comments and respond accordingly. Third, if you are lucky enough to get a bulkhead seat and have packed only one carry-on to put in the overhead bin, you are frequently thwarted by the flight attendants luggage already there. I suggest SWA fix that problem while they are redoing the interiors. Lastly, SWA should know that we switched from AA even though we are many miles accumulated in their program because they started charging for luggage. Sure hope that does not change.
I hope you will pay attention to standardizing the length of your seat belts from plane to plane.
Recently, I flew Southwest and I had several connecting flights. The seat belts were a different length on each plane. One one I had to tighten the belt several inches and the next I had to ask for a belt extention. This has never happened to me on any other airline.
Just flew on the maiden flight of the first aircraft to be redesigned! A Dallas, Texas to Midland, Texas flight. It was a wonderful experience! The moment we walked on there was the smell of new leather and the freshness of new, brightly colored seats. The extra row had no effect on the space we are normally accustomed to. Great job Southwest! Thank you for always keeping your passenger's comfort at the forefront. Looking forward to future flights on your newly redesigned aircraft!
Adding 6 seats without reducing passenger space is a neat trick if you can do it. I am skeptical that it is possible to do that without eliminating space from somewhere. I hope you don't take any space away from the pilot or co-pilot. Hmm... more likely from the passengers.
I am 6'5"and enjoy a lot of legroom now plus you wider seats 17.5" most airlines are at about 17 " and that makes it tough on big boys like me. Wider elven by a fraction of an inch is better. Isn't that correct?
Glad to always fly the company plane. One thing that buzzes my saw are those customers that put there feet and shoes up on the fine bulkheads like it's their duty to mar the finish! Don't make me come up there!
Just another reason I switched to Frontier, love the stretch seating and those sw seats are terrible on my neck, glad they are changing em will be interesting to see if its any better
Having just flown on one of the new configurations there are several things to like.
1. the new color is great
2. the new seat back pocket it better
3.the new safety markings are clearer
However; the seats are uncomfortable after about an hour. On the 2 1/2 hour flight my sitter was extra tired. The shorter stance is to give more knee room, but my knees still touched the seat in front of me and I am only 6'2". I thought I was on Contential or USAir or American. Southwest has always been the plane of choice because there was more room in the seats and between. Now you are becoming like the others carriers. That is a bad business move. There was not any change in the overhead area. and the Exit rows now have about as much space as any other row.