- Redesigned aircraft cabin interior featuring RECARO aircraft
seats to debut in early 2025
- Existing Boeing 737 MAX 8 and -800s to include onboard power
ports and larger overhead bins
- Uniform refresh process underway to bring newly-designed
apparel to Employees
DALLAS, Feb. 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV)
is onboarding a new look and feel with plans for redesigned
aircraft cabin conveniences and interiors that are distinctly
Southwest® and will feature new aircraft seats from
RECARO. Alongside these efforts, Southwest announces an Employee
uniform refresh that will bring a modern look to more than 53,000
Southwest Employees.
New Interior Design and Seats to Enhance Cabin
Comfort
Southwest Airlines partnered with Tangerine, a
leading design company that specializes in transportation, to
create an updated cabin interior for new aircraft deliveries
beginning next year. The design is based on extensive research
covering Customer and Employee perceptions of color, comfort, and
their aspirations for the overall onboard experience. The design
brings to life Southwest's warm energy with deep blue tones, sky
blue accents, and a nod to the Southwest Heart woven throughout the
carpet.
As part of this refresh, Customer research and product testing
guided Southwest to select the global supplier of premium aircraft
seats, RECARO, to provide comfortable seating that complements the
calm blue palette planned for the refreshed cabins. The Southwest
Heart will be threaded throughout the interior with the
recognizable symbol debossed on seat headrests, alongside a sunray
pattern on the seats. To see visuals of the cabin interior,
please visit SWAMedia.com.
"Southwest flies above our competition with industry-leading
flexibility and our legendary Hospitality," said Tony Roach, Senior Vice President and Chief
Customer Officer at Southwest Airlines. "Our redesigned cabin
interior significantly enhances our inflight Customer experience
and will complement the amazing service that our Crews
provide."
The new RECARO seats include a multi-adjustable headrest cushion
for enhanced head and neck support, an intuitively designed seat
for ultimate comfort while maximizing seat width and overall
support. The upgrades continue as each seat also will include a
personal electronic device holder for Customers to enjoy
free1 Inflight Entertainment on their devices more
easily.
"RECARO is proud to collaborate on expanding our footprint in
the Americas, especially when working with a local partner like
Southwest who began their story at the same time as us," said
Mark Hiller, Ph.D., and CEO of
RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding. "Our new seat will be a
great addition to the Southwest Customer Experience, as its durable
design and comfort features will serve Passengers well."
"We're delighted to be part of Southwest's historic journey and
next phase in their modernization plan," said Matt Round, Chief Creative Officer at Tangerine.
"We've listened to Southwest's Customers and Employees and
responded by creating a distinctive new cabin interior that meets
and exceeds their desires. By working closely with Southwest and
all suppliers involved, we were able to ensure the design intent
was executed in the cabin to the highest possible quality. The
stunning result is a testament to what can be achieved through a
collaborative spirit from all those involved."
Newly-Designed Employee Uniforms Will Also Take to the
Sky
Additionally, a Uniform Inspiration Team with 75
Southwest Employees is working alongside current apparel vendor,
Design Collective by Cintas, and uniform brand
consultant and fashion stylist, Bonnie Markel, to
develop the new look for Southwest Employees who work in and around
airports, including Inflight Operations,
Ground Operations, Cargo, and Technical
Operations.
"This design project brings together unique points of view in a
dynamic and engaging co-creation process," said Caroline Bartek, Creative Director with Design
Collective by Cintas. "It's a true collaboration between Southwest
Airlines and the Uniform Inspiration Team, Design Collective, and
Bonnie Markel," said Abby Groshek, Apparel Designer with Design
Collective by Cintas. "As the design process unfolds, Design
Collective and Bonnie Markel are
creating an apparel line that represents the Southwest Brand, with
crucial input from the Uniform Inspiration Team Members who bring
their everyday working knowledge and experience to ensure the
apparel of the future fulfills all their functional and fashion
needs."
Other Customer Experience Enhancements Continue Making
Southwest Easy to Fly
Since its first flight in 1971,
Southwest has been a maverick, disrupting the airline industry by
giving people the freedom to fly and creating a new era of
affordable air travel. More than 50 years later, Southwest remains
the most flexible airline2, giving Customers more value
for their money through two free checked bags3, no
hidden fees, flight credits4 and Rapid
Rewards® points that don't expire, and world-renowned
Hospitality.
Southwest has implemented many enhancements and initiatives
outlined in a May 2022 five-year plan
of investment and evolution across its Customer Experience.
Most recent updates include:
- Enhanced WiFi: Southwest completed upgrades of WiFi
equipment fleetwide at the end of 2023 to offer an enhanced
inflight internet browsing experience with more bandwidth and
faster data.
- Onboard power ports and larger overhead bins: All
new 737 MAX 8 aircraft delivered to Southwest are outfitted with
onboard USB A and USB C power ports and larger overhead bins.
Additionally, these features will be added to existing MAX 8 and
737-800 aircraft, a process that is anticipated to be completed
over the next several years.
- New functionality for Southwest's digital platforms and
airport kiosks: Free Same-Day Standby5, Digital Bag
Tracking, and Online Baggage Check-In allow Customers the option to
self-serve on common requests.
This year, enhancements to the award-winning Rapid Rewards
program6 make it easier for Customers to earn tier
status7, and A-List Preferred Members may enjoy up to
two complimentary premium drinks per flight8. Customers
can also pay for Southwest flights using a combination of cash and
Rapid Rewards points9 soon. Additionally, Southwest
plans to introduce a new onboard salty snack and refresh snack
offerings on flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.
To learn more about improvements in the Southwest Customer
Experience, visit Southwest.com/Experience.
1 Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled
aircraft, offered for a limited time.
2 When comparing checked baggage policies, ticket/flight
change fee policies, and flight credit expiration policies for
Southwest's Wanna Get Away fares to basic economy or other entry
level fares flown by U.S.-based carriers flying on routes solely
within the 50 United States and Washington D.C. Policies are
compared based on customers without certain airline status, credit
cards, corporate agreements, or other memberships.
3 First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits
apply.
4 Flight credits for non-refundable fares will be
issued as long as the flight is cancelled more than 10 minutes
prior to the scheduled departure.
5 You can list for same-day standby via a Southwest
Customer Service Agent at the airport or the Southwest app or
mobile web. You will receive a message based on the contact
preference selected during booking if you are cleared on the
flight. For both same-day change and same-day standby, you must
change your flight or request to be added to the same-day standby
list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your
original flight or the no-show policy will apply. If using the app
or mobile web for standby, you must list your name 30 minutes ahead
of scheduled departure. Government taxes and fees may apply but you
will be refunded. Your original boarding position is not
guaranteed. See Southwest.com/standby for more details.
6 All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and
can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.
7Tier qualifying flights are revenue flights purchased
and flown. Tier qualifying points are earned from revenue flights
during the qualifying year or through select Rapid Rewards Credit
Cards from Chase and are exclusive of bonuses or promotions. Tier
qualifying points (TQP) earned through spending using the Rapid
Rewards Premier Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit
Card, Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, and the Rapid Rewards
Performance Business Credit Card will count toward A-List/A-List
Preferred qualification based on when they are posted to the
Member's Rapid Rewards account and NOT based on spending date. The
points will be posted to the Member's account after the statement
closing date, which will be different for each Customer.
8 On flights traveling 176 miles or more, A-List
Preferred Members receive up to two complimentary premium drinks
per leg. Flights traveling 175 miles or less only serve water.
Drink coupons are subject to availability. Service may also be
limited at Southwest's discretion. This coupon has no cash value.
Drink coupon is void if altered, sold, purchased, brokered, or
bartered. Non-exchangeable for other goods or services. Southwest
Airlines reserves the right to discontinue its drink coupon program
at any time. The coupon is invalid after the expiration date and
will not be updated or replaced. Must be 21 years of age or older
to consume alcoholic beverages. Alcohol purchased with drink
coupons must be consumed onboard the aircraft.
9 Cash + Points will allow Rapid Rewards Members to
combine points with other eligible forms of payment to purchase
flights, starting in the spring of 2024. Not all Customers will see
Cash + Points as an available payment option during the initial
rollout. Cash + Points bookings will not earn Rapid Rewards points,
tier qualifying points for A-List or A-List Preferred status, or
Companion Pass qualifying points.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the
world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its
one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11
countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky
through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries
more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other
airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first
corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of
no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering
its nearly 75,0002 People to deliver unparalleled
Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty
among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula
for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive
years3 of profitability for Southwest
Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and
mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing
the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart
of its success. Learn more by visiting
Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart,
Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon
emissions by 2050. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a
three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn
more by visiting Southwest.com/planet.
1Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation
quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1
2021
2Fulltime-equivalent active
Employees
31973-2019 annual
profitability
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-plans-customer-experience-enhancements-and-modernization-of-brand-elements-with-a-redesigned-cabin-new-seats-and-a-uniform-refresh-302052072.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.