Alaska Airlines is undertaking a cabin refresh for its Boeing 737-800, 737-900 and 737-900ER fleets, scheduled for completion by the end of 2014. The $100 million program replaces older seats with a slimmer, more ergonomic design to increase personal space and comfort. In addition to the new seat surfaces, the retrofit will add both 110-volt and USB power outlets at the seatbacks so passengers can charge laptops, tablets and other devices during flight.
The reconfiguration will also modestly increase capacity on select models. After the work is finished, 737-800 aircraft will seat 163 passengers total, with 16 first-class seats and 147 in the main cabin. The 737-900 aircraft will be reconfigured to 181 seats, consisting of 16 first-class and 165 main-cabin seats. The changes include adding six seats to the 737-800 and nine seats to the 737-900 compared with their previous layouts.
Alaska Airlines is exploring an upgraded in-flight entertainment approach that would let customers stream movies and television shows directly to their WiFi-enabled devices. Rather than installing seatback screens systemwide, this option focuses on wireless streaming to personal devices to provide a broader selection of content while minimizing additional weight and maintenance associated with embedded displays.
The cabin refresh aims to balance increased capacity with enhanced passenger experience. Slimmer seat profiles free up legroom and shoulder space, while integrated power options respond to rising demand for onboard connectivity. Together, these updates are intended to improve comfort for both leisure and business travelers, supporting productivity and entertainment options in flight.
As the program progresses, affected aircraft will be taken out of service for interior modifications and returned to regular schedules once upgrades are completed. Passengers traveling on refreshed planes can expect a more modern cabin feel, improved charging options at every seat, and the potential to stream entertainment to their own devices if the carrier implements the proposed streaming system.