Alaska Airlines is looking to the future with new seats for its First Class product and expand work with Recaro.
Alaska Airlines will sign for two types of seats:
- The CL4710 – A premium seat for First Class passengers
- The BL3530 – An Economy seat for Main Cabin customers
The new order will allow for equipment to be line-fitted (fitted at the factory).
This will cover 32 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and for retrofitting 11 aircraft in the existing fleet.
Let’s have a look at the seats. The CL4710 is a business seat in a 2-2 formation, which features an integrated into the in-arm table is a tablet holder with a power outlet for passenger personal electronic devices. There’s also a cocktail table, with tray tables stowed in the seat.
The new seat will be installed in the First Class cabins of Alaska Airlines Boeing aircraft starting in the fall of 2018.
The CL4710 Seat in model form – Image, Recaro
The CL4710 in real life at Aircraft Interiors Expo – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Meanwhile in Main Cabin/Economy Class, the BL3530 seat will be making an appearance. These are lightweight seats with recline functionality built-in, as well as options for power at seat.
And of course, they’re lightweight seats – which saves the airline money when flying them.
Recaro BL3530 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The BL3530 in real life – the seats can be configured with or without a headrest. Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The seats can also be configured with a different seat back options in terms of tray tables, cup holders and tablet holding devices – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Commenting on the order, Dr. Mark Hiller, Chief Executive Officer and Shareholder of Recaro Aircraft Seating states:
“Recaro recognizes Alaska’s long standing partnership and major received orders as a main contributor to the growth of the site. We are very proud of this partnership, and excited that the entire Alaska Airlines fleet will be equipped solely by RECARO in the coming years.”
On the Alaska Airlines side, Sangita Woerner, Vice President Marketing of Alaska Airlines, states
“Our joint innovation process produces aircraft seats that offer our passengers greater comfort and premium features. We look forward to further expanding our partnership.”
I’ve tried both of the seats in “the showroom” and as usual, these are pretty reasonable seats. The CL4710 should be an excellent seat for the first class seat with a lot of configurable options. Meanwhile, the BL3530 is much more of an economy class seat.
Of course, seat covers and other options are yet to be defined.
How comofrtable both of these seats will be will be the decision how tightly to pitch these seats. Only then, will know the true comfort levels.
But as seats – they’re pretty good and should be comfortable for Alaska Airlines passengers.
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My big concern on these is that they are comfortable. I worry about the lighter slim seats in that it seems like they are more prone to people kicking or holding on your headrest as they move around. That and the butt cushions are very lacking in many slim seats which is really the most important feature.
Simian seat swinging behaviour is hardwired in particular people. It’s more a function of obesity and poor abdominal integrity than choice of seat.