Alaska Airlines puts its first Boeing 737-900 ER with new Recaro seats into revenue service today

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) today (November 8) introduced its first Boeing 737-900 ER, which carries more passengers, flies farther and is the most fuel-efficient aircraft the carrier operates. Passengers traveling on Alaska’s new 737-900 ER will enjoy more comfortable seating and Boeing’s Sky Interior, which features larger sculpted overhead bins and mood lighting designed to provide a more spacious cabin experience.

Alaska Airlines flew its first 737-900 ER today between Seattle/Tacoma and San Diego and is scheduled to take delivery of 38 of the aircraft through 2017.

Among the most significant features of Alaska’s newest airplane is the innovative, custom-designed seat that provides passengers with more space, a six-way adjustable headrest and the carrier’s standard three inches of recline in the main cabin (see photo above). Made by Recaro Aircraft Seating, the seat includes a comfortable yet slimmer seatback and bottom and a literature pocket located above the tray table.

Alaska’s first class cabin on its 737-900 ER features a different premium Recaro seat with five inches of recline, an articulating seat bottom and a six-way adjustable headrest.

Configured with 165 seats in the main cabin and 16 seats in first class, Alaska’s new 737-900ERs will fly transcontinental routes between the west and east coasts and to the Hawaiian Islands.

Alaska Airlines 737-900 ER trivia

Alaska’s new lighter seats will save an estimated 8,000 gallons of fuel annually per aircraft.
Alaska’s 737-900 ER has nine more seats than a standard 737-900. The extra seats are made possible by the airplane’s flat rather than curved rear bulkhead and by reducing the size of a main cabin closet.
The 737-900 ER is an “extended range” version of the 737-900 and is capable of flying 3,280 statute miles in a single flight.
The 138-foot-long Boeing 737-900 ER has a wingspan of 112 feet and a cruising speed of 530 mph.
Alaska is scheduled to add three more 737-900 ERs to its fleet by the end of 2012 and nine more -900 ERs in 2013.

Alaska’s first 737-900 ER also features a decal near the passenger boarding door honoring veterans and the military. In anticipation of Veteran’s Day, the decal was unveiled at an event yesterday on the 737-900 ER and on a Bombardier Q400 operated by Alaska’s sister carrier, Horizon Air. The airlines also recognized the efforts of Hire America’s Heroes, a Washington-based nonprofit seeking to connect major corporations with military service members looking for work. Alaska Airlines has partnered with the organization since 2011 and is expanding its relationship to help expand the program into California next year. Learn more about Hire America’s Heroes at http://hireamericasheroes.org/.

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