Lightweight seats are a bone of contention sometimes – with them being stripped down in terms of weight, whilst sometimes leaving the impression of less passenger comfort.
Frontier Airlines has announced it is to utilise the Recaro SL3710 – again a lightweight and slim seat.
The Frontier Airlines version of the Recaro SL3710 – Image, Frontier Airlines
Let’s go through Frontier’s stuff… and some real-world impressions of the seat.
The seat is around 30% lighter than current seats- with the SL3710 coming in at around 8kg (depending on how they’re configured). The airline argues that this action will reduce the company’s environmental footprint, whilst reducing fuel bills.
The new seats will also offer extra comfort and larger tray tables versus earlier designs.
The new seats will be featured on 156 Airbus aircraft currently on order and scheduled for delivery beginning in March 2021. The seats are part of a major deal between Recaro Aircraft Seating, and Indigo Partners, which owns a portfolio of airlines including Frontier.
According to the airline
On an average Airbus A321 aircraft, the fuel savings equates to 31,683 gallons per year. The use of these aircraft, Frontier’s seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline’s average of 43 percent fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines
Let’s talk passenger experience.
According to Frontier, the new seats will feature extra comfort, along with redesigned armrests and a larger tray table that will provide added space for laptops, reading materials and other personal devices.
How will that translate?
I spent some time with Recaro SL3710 last year at Aircraft Interiors Expo (remember when trade shows were a thing?), with my first impressions of the seat when it was unveiled.
Recaro SL3710 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The main changes to this model of seat lie in the seat cushion, the seat pan and the seat structure itself allowed for seat weight reductions. It features a fixed backrest design (pre-reclined) that should provide more passenger living room – depending on the seating configuration and density of the layout.
I found it my limited trials to be an acceptable experience – it won’t match the deeply padded seats of the past, it provided a “Not horrible” space.
In the tested configuration, the seat was set at 29″ pitch (which if we like it or not, is fast becoming a standard) at economy class. In the tested configuration, there is a tray table and a cup holder. The seat was set at 29″ pitch, 18.3″ width (eg – Airbus narrow-body width).
With tray deployed
Legroom at 29″
In Quotes
“Frontier Airlines is committed to maintaining our position as America’s Greenest Airline and our current fleet is 43 percent more fuel efficient on average than other U.S. airlines,” said Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines. “The lighter weight Recaro seats will result in tens of thousands of gallons of fuel savings on a single aircraft while improving comfort. Less fuel means reduced operating costs which translates to savings that we can pass on to consumers in the form of low fares.”
Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO and Shareholder of Recaro Aircraft Seating said
“Collaborating with Frontier Airlines for the first time has been considered a tremendous success, and we look forward to installing our SL3710 seats in early 2021. Just like Frontier, Recaro is focused on making flying a sustainable experience by developing lightweight and comfortable seats that contribute to savings in fuel consumption. I am confident this is the beginning of a long-term partnership.”
Try it first.
Whilst this seat is near it is the bottom end of the Recaro product stack, the SL3710 isn’t a bad seat in the least (and a step up from the previous SL3510 seating that is in use currently).
If you haven’t tried it – it might be worth holding judgement, rather than raining pain without abashment.
For Frontier – the main aim of a seat like this will be to pack passengers in, get them from A to B, whilst maximising the income and reducing costs. As we know, fuel costs are one of the biggest variable costs an airline has – even in odd times like this.
And lower costs and higher revenue is what airlines are in for.
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