Alaska Airlines unveils big cabin retrofits, adding premium seats to Boeing 737s

1 View

Premium demand is surging, and Alaska Airways is betting that vacationers will need to splurge for premium seats for the lengthy haul.

The Seattle-based provider introduced on Wednesday that it might add new firstclass and extra-legroom seats to its plane as a part of a retrofit program protecting its Boeing 737 fleet, which can add 1.3 million premium seats to its schedule every year.

The retrofit program will span over 200 Boeing 737-800, 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 plane. The primary airplane to endure a cabin revamp will probably be pulled from service for retrofitting in September, with all the retrofit course of anticipated to be accomplished by summer season 2026.

You may discover an aircraft-by-aircraft breakdown of the cabin retrofits on the backside of this story, however highlights embrace including 4 first-class seats to the Boeing 737-800 fleet, bringing the whole to 16 new recliners within the pointy finish of the jet. (This information was already announced earlier this year.)

Going ahead, the one mainline jets to characteristic 12 first-class recliners will probably be some Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737-700 plane. (It is attention-grabbing that Alaska did not announce plans to harmonize the variety of first-class seats throughout its 737 MAX 8 fleet, an plane that may presumably be within the provider’s fleet for a lot of extra years to come back. That might change because the seats on the airline’s current MAX 8 plane come due for substitute.)

The retrofitted Boeing 737-800s will supply up to date Recaro first-class recliners with further legroom, a foot relaxation (a uncommon and glorious contact for home first-class), a seatback gadget holder, a winged headrest, common energy retailers and USB-C charging ports. These seats will even characteristic built-in cup holders, together with further recline and bigger tray tables.

No different first-class cabins are being up to date with new merchandise as a part of this announcement, however Alaska is increasing its so-called Premium Class footprint. Alaska is including six Premium Class seats on its Boeing 737-900ER and Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane, growing this cabin from 24 to 30 seats on each jets.

These extra-legroom economic system seats embrace 4 further inches of pitch in comparison with customary economic system seats, free alcoholic drinks on flights longer than 350 miles and precedence boarding.

Alaska says that Premium Class and economic system vacationers on all of the retrofitted fleets will get pleasure from gadget holders, cup holders, USB-C charging ports and winged headrests. The airline additionally stated it should proceed providing 4 bathrooms throughout its Boeing fleet.

Day by day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter

Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

The provider stated in an announcement that it determined to take a position on this venture “in response to rising demand from our valued company… Our Premium Cabin efficiency continues to assist what we imagine to be a structural shift in increased demand for premium merchandise.”

Alaska is not the one airline to note an upmarket shift in its traveler profile. For years, Delta Air Traces has leaned right into a premium-focused technique that has landed it on the prime of the pack amongst U.S. airways throughout a number of dimensions. United Airways new “Next” brand campaign launched in 2021 and is highlighted by a nose-to-tail refresh of almost the entire domestic fleet, elevating the premium expertise for vacationers.

Within the second quarter of 2024, Alaska introduced that its first-class and Premium Class revenues completed up 8% and 6%, respectively, with a first-class load issue hitting 71%.

Whereas these new premium seats might pad Alaska’s backside line, they need to even be excellent news for elite vacationers in search of more award and upgrade space. With a better proportion of premium seats, Alaska Mileage Plan members may start noticing that upgrades clear just a bit extra often than earlier than.