Southwest Airlines Announces Cabin Makeover (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), today, introduced new era of customer comfort and sustainability with evolution of cabin interior design.

The Dallas, Texas-based airline said that its cabin makeover uses durable and environmentally responsible products to reduce waste and create weight savings onboard the aircraft, while improving comfort for customers. The cabin makeover features recyclable carpet, a brighter color-scheme, and a more durable, eco-friendly, and comfortable low-profile seat that weighs less than the current seat. The new design will also allow the airline to increase the number of seats onboard from 137 to 143. But, more seats would not come at the expense of customer comfort, the airline noted.

Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Southwest, today said that the airline is preparing for its next 40 years with a fleet modernization plan that includes the new interior, the Boeing 737-800 which is scheduled to come online in March, and the 737 MAX which is expected to join the Southwest fleet in 2017. Jordan also noted that the evolutionary changes the airline is making with the new interior uphold its low-cost roots and historic focus on customer service. Jordan added that the cabin upgrade allows the airline to create significant revenue opportunities without adding unwanted fees.

Southwest plans to start retrofitting its current fleet of 372 Boeing-700s with the new interior in March this year. The makeover is expected to be completed in 2013 for a total estimated cost of nearly $60 million.

Southwest Airlines shares are gaining in trading today. At last check, the stock was trading 1.13% higher at $8.94 on volume of 2.06 million.

Southwest Airlines shares have fallen more than 32% in the last one year.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.