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Southwest Airlines Unveils Elevated Aircraft Cabin Design

Southwest Airlines is celebrating a major milestone with the delivery of their first aircraft with an updated cabin design.  The cabin features new RECARO seats, the Extra Legroom experience, larger overhead bins, in-seat power, an updated seatback design and more.


Southwest’s new Extra Legroom (ELR) Seating, Featuring REACARO R2 Seats – Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Southwest’s new Extra Legroom (ELR) Seating, Featuring REACARO R2 Seats – Courtesy Southwest Airlines

 On Tuesday (October 14, 2025), Southwest Airlines announced the delivery of their first aircraft with an updated cabin design.  The Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration N8972S, features new RECARO seats, the Extra Legroom experience, larger overhead bins, in-seat power, an updated seatback design and more.  The aircraft is expected to enter passenger revenue service on Thursday, October 16, 2025.  From now on, each new aircraft Southwest receives from Boeing will include these features, delivering on the airline’s fleet modernization plans and bringing an elevated onboard experience with premium options for their guests.


The updated cabin look includes new RECARO R2 seats, a refreshed lighting package, updated carpet, and other unique design details centered around a palette of blue tones.  Southwest will also be retrofitting a few of their Boeing 737-800s with RECARO seats later this year.  The design is based on extensive research covering customer and employee perceptions of color, comfort, and aspirations for the overall onboard experience, and it’s meant to create a cabin environment that feels modern, welcoming, and uniquely Southwest.


Southwest Airlines Showcases Elevated Cabin Design - Courtesy Southwest Airlines

Additionally, the cabin features Extra Legroom (ELR) sections that provide guests a roomier experience with more room to stretch out at the front of the cabin and near the Exit rows.  The RECARO ELR seats will stand out from the rest of the cabin, as they feature a sky-blue sunray design that is visible from the front and back.  When Southwest begins operating with assigned and premium seating on January 27, 2026, guests in ELR seats will enjoy an enhanced experience throughout their journey, including Boarding Group 1 or 2, complimentary premium beverages, and enhances snack options.  Customers seated in ELR seats will have the option to choose from Wonderful® Pistachios No Shells, both the Roasted & Salted and Honey Roasted flavors, in addition to our current snacks.


All new deliveries feature the larger overhead bins and a USB-A and USB-C port on each seatback.  In addition, the new RECARO seatbacks also include a personal electronic device holder, and a tray table with two inset beverage holders—one for right-hand flyers and one for left.  In addition to the new features available on new aircraft deliveries beginning this week, Southwest will continue to elevate the onboard experience for customers through 2026 and beyond.  This includes Boeing 737-700 fleet modernization, Free Wi-Fi for all Rapid Rewards Members® in partnership with T-Mobile®, and refreshed uniforms.

 

 

Source: Southwest Airlines

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