Southwest Airways made this announcement:
Southwest Airways® is celebrating a serious milestone in our journey to present Prospects extra alternative with the supply of the primary plane with an up to date cabin. This new plane offers a tangible means for our Prospects to expertise our elevated product, together with:
Up to date cabin design;
New plane seats made by RECARO;
The Additional Legroom1 expertise, together with enhanced snack options2 (coming quickly); and,
Bigger overhead bins, in-seat energy at each seat, and seatback design updates.
The Boeing MAX 8 plane (tail quantity N8972S) is anticipated to enter service on Thurs., Oct. 16. Every new plane Southwest® receives from Boeing will embody these options, delivering on Southwest’s fleet modernization plans and bringing an elevated onboard expertise with premium choices to our Prospects.
Our New Cabin Design
Southwest is introducing an up to date cabin look with new RECARO R2 seats, a refreshed lighting package deal, up to date carpet, and different distinctive design particulars. The look facilities round a palette of blue tones that hook up with our Model whereas pairing seamlessly with our new seats.
The design relies on intensive analysis protecting Buyer and Worker perceptions of colour, consolation, and aspirations for the general onboard expertise, and it’s meant to create a cabin surroundings that feels fashionable, welcoming, and uniquely Southwest.
RECARO Seats
In 2024, we chosen RECARO—the worldwide provider of premium plane seats—to supply snug seating, primarily based on Buyer analysis and product testing. These new seats might be put in on all new Southwest plane deliveries, and we might be retrofitting a couple of of our present -800s with RECARO seats later this yr.
RECARO seats are intuitively designed for final consolation, whereas maximizing seat width and total help. Each multi-adjustable headrest cushion contains a Southwest Coronary heart, whereas the seat contains a sunray sample.
The Additional Legroom (ELR) Expertise, Together with Enhanced Snack Choices!
The cabin options Additional Legroom (ELR) sections that present our Prospects a roomier expertise with extra room to stretch out on the entrance of the cabin and close to the Exit rows.
RECARO ELR seats will iconically stand out from the remainder of the cabin, that includes a sky blue sunray design that’s seen from the back and front.
Once we start working with assigned and premium seating on Jan. 27, 2026, Prospects in our Additional Legroom seats could have an enhanced expertise all through their journey. Along with the additional legroom ELR seats present, Prospects in these seats will obtain:
Boarding Group 1 or 2, offering earlier entry to overhead bin space3;
Complimentary premium drinks; and,
Enhanced snack choices.
We’re happy to announce that Prospects seated in ELR seats could have the choice to select from Fantastic® Pistachios No Shells, each the Roasted & Saltedand Honey Roasted flavors, along with our present snacks. These new onboard choices present extra choices solely for Prospects in our most premium seats, whereas harkening again to our historical past with a nod to the evenly salted and honey roasted peanuts we beforehand served onboard.
Bigger Overhead Bins, In-Seat Energy at Each Seat, and Seatback Design Updates
Southwest has been laborious at work to replace our fleet with in-seat energy and bigger overhead bins for carryon storage.
This plane and all new deliveries characteristic the bigger overhead bins and a USB-A and USB-C port on every seatback, offering Prospects with in-seat energy to cost their telephones, tablets, laptops, and extra.
As well as, the brand new RECARO seatbacks additionally embody a private digital system holder, designed to permit Prospects a cushty strategy to take pleasure in inflight leisure; and a tray desk with two inset beverage holders—one for right-hand flyers and one for left.
Extra Onboard Enhancements to Come
Along with the brand new options obtainable on new plane deliveries starting this week, Southwest continues to raise the onboard expertise for our Prospects by means of 2026 and past. These embody:
Modernizing our -700s;
Free WiFi4 for all Fast Rewards Members® because of T-Cell®; and,
Refreshed uniforms.
Modernizing Our -700s
As we work to boost the Buyer expertise throughout our fleet and supply extra constant choices, we’ll modernize greater than half of our Boeing 737-700s by including in-seat energy, work that’s anticipated to start within the second half of 2026 and aimed to be accomplished by mid-2027. Plane anticipated to stay in our fleet longest are being prioritized for this improve.
Free WiFi is Coming for Fast Rewards Members
As we introduced final month, we’ll provide free inflight WiFi, because of T-Cell, to all Fast Rewards Members, starting Oct. 24, 2025! As we proceed to boost our onboard expertise, inflight WiFi is a key factor in that journey and permits us to supply significant worth to our loyal Prospects.
Refreshed Uniforms
As a complement to the elevated cabin design, a uniform refresh for Southwest Staff who work in and round airports, together with Inflight Operations, Floor Operations, Provisioning, Cargo, Floor Assist Gear Groups, and Technical Operations, is anticipated to rollout in 2027.
1Up to 5 extra inches of additional legroom in comparison with Normal and Most well-liked seats. Seat pitch will fluctuate by plane kind.
2Excluding Hawaii interisland flights, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are served on choose flights 251 miles or extra. In case you’re flying between Hawaii and the continental U.S., you’ll have extra snacks to select from. Service can also be restricted on the discretion of Southwest Airways®.
3Boarding group relies on the seat kind and placement within the cabin. The seats included within the fare bundle are primarily based on availability. Our Fast Rewards® A-Listing Most well-liked Members will board in Teams 1 or 2, and our A-Listing Members and Fast Rewards Credit score Cardmembers will board no later than Group 5.
4Where obtainable. Accessible on WiFi-enabled designated plane.
Southwest Airways plane photograph library (present livery):
Extra airline information:
Scorching New Images:
