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Home » Articles » Southwest Showcases Elevated Aircraft Cabin Design

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Southwest Showcases Elevated Aircraft Cabin Design

by GLO
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Southwest Airlines® is celebrating a major milestone in our journey to give Customers more choice with the delivery of the first aircraft with an updated cabin. This new aircraft provides a tangible way for our Customers to experience our elevated product.

Southwest Airlines

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Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines® is celebrating a major milestone in our journey to give Customers more choice with the delivery of the first aircraft with an updated cabin. This new aircraft provides a tangible way for our Customers to experience our elevated product, including:
  • Updated cabin design;
  • New aircraft seats made by RECARO;
  • The Extra Legroom1 experience, including enhanced snack options2 (coming soon); and,
  • Larger overhead bins, in-seat power at every seat, and seatback design updates. 
The Boeing MAX 8 aircraft (tail number N8972S) is expected to enter service on Thurs., Oct. 16. Each new aircraft Southwest® receives from Boeing will include these features, delivering on Southwest’s fleet modernization plans and bringing an elevated onboard experience with premium options to our Customers. 

 

Our New Cabin Design

Southwest is introducing an updated cabin look with new RECARO R2 seats, a refreshed lighting package, updated carpet, and other unique design details. The look centers around a palette of blue tones that connect to our Brand while pairing seamlessly with our new seats.
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.
 

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Images: Southwestern

RECARO Seats

In 2024, we selected RECARO—the global supplier of premium aircraft seats—to provide comfortable seating, based on Customer research and product testing. These new seats will be installed on all new Southwest aircraft deliveries, and we will be retrofitting a few of our current  -800s with RECARO seats later this year.
RECARO seats are intuitively designed for ultimate comfort, while maximizing seat width and overall support. Every multi-adjustable headrest cushion features a Southwest Heart, while the seat features a sunray pattern.
 

The Extra Legroom (ELR) Experience, Including Enhanced Snack Options!

The cabin features Extra Legroom (ELR) sections that provide our Customers a roomier experience with more room to stretch out at the front of the cabin and near the Exit rows.
RECARO ELR seats will iconically stand out from the rest of the cabin, featuring a sky blue sunray design that is visible from the front and back.
When we begin operating with assigned and premium seating on Jan. 27, 2026, Customers in our Extra Legroom seats will have an enhanced experience throughout their journey. In addition to the extra legroom ELR seats provide, Customers in these seats will receive:
  • Boarding Group 1 or 2, providing earlier access to overhead bin space3;
  • Complimentary premium beverages; and,
  •  Enhanced snack options.
We are pleased to announce that Customers seated in ELR seats will have the option to choose from Wonderful® Pistachios No Shells, both the Roasted & Saltedand Honey Roasted flavors, in addition to our current snacks. These new onboard offerings provide more options exclusively for Customers in our most premium seats, while harkening back to our history with a nod to the lightly salted and honey roasted peanuts we previously served onboard.
 

Larger Overhead Bins, In-Seat Power at Every Seat, and Seatback Design Updates

Southwest has been hard at work to update our fleet with in-seat power and larger overhead bins for carryon storage.
This aircraft and all new deliveries feature the larger overhead bins and a USB-A and USB-C port on each seatback, providing Customers with in-seat power to charge their phones, tablets, laptops, and more.
In addition, the new RECARO seatbacks also include a personal electronic device holder, designed to allow Customers a comfortable way to enjoy inflight entertainment; and a tray table with two inset beverage holders—one for right-hand flyers and one for left.
 

More Onboard Enhancements to Come

In addition to the new features available on new aircraft deliveries beginning this week, Southwest continues to elevate the onboard experience for our Customers through 2026 and beyond. These include:
  • Modernizing our -700s;
  • Free WiFi4 for all Rapid Rewards Members® thanks to T-Mobile®; and,
  • Refreshed uniforms.
 

Modernizing Our -700s

As we work to enhance the Customer experience across our fleet and provide more consistent offerings, we will modernize more than half of our Boeing 737-700s by adding in-seat power, work that is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and aimed to be completed by mid-2027. Aircraft expected to remain in our fleet longest are being prioritized for this upgrade.    
 

Free WiFi is Coming for Rapid Rewards Members

As we announced last month, we’ll offer free inflight WiFi, thanks to T-Mobile, to all Rapid Rewards Members, beginning Oct. 24, 2025! As we continue to enhance our onboard experience, inflight WiFi is a key element in that journey and allows us to provide meaningful value to our loyal Customers.
 

Refreshed Uniforms

As a complement to the elevated cabin design, a uniform refresh for Southwest Employees who work in and around airports, including Inflight Operations, Ground Operations, Provisioning, Cargo, Ground Support Equipment Teams, and Technical Operations, is expected to rollout in 2027.
 
 
1Up to five additional inches of extra legroom compared to Standard and Preferred seats. Seat pitch will vary by aircraft type.
2Excluding Hawaii interisland flights, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are served on select flights 251 miles or more. If you’re flying between Hawaii and the continental U.S., you’ll have more snacks to choose from. Service may also be limited at the discretion of Southwest Airlines®. 
3Boarding group is based on the seat type and location in the cabin. The seats included in the fare bundle are based on availability. Our Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred Members will board in Groups 1 or 2, and our A-List Members and Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will board no later than Group 5.
4Where available. Available on WiFi-enabled designated aircraft.
 
Source: Southwestern

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