• 

  Recaro

  Business Type:

  Seat Maker

  Date Founded:

  1906-10-01

  CEO:

  Martin Putsch

  Headquarters Location:

  Stuttgart, Germany

The first of many JetSMART aircraft hosting the new Recaro SL3710 seats took flight yesterday. The Airbus A321neo, one of the youngest aircraft in JetSMART's fleet, was retrofitted with 240 of the Recaro economy class seats. The seats were designed to save weight and add comfort on short-haul flights. Over the next five years, thousands more of these seats will be added to the JetSMART fleet.

Improved seating

JetSMART has fitted a young Airbus A321neo with seats from Recaro Aircraft Seating. The aircraft flew its first flight with these new seats on Monday, August 15th. The seat model is the SL3710, and the aircraft is densely packed with 240 of these new seats. This was the first of many JetSMART aircraft fitted with these seats. In 2020, an order for 11,000 SL3710 seats was placed for JetSMART. These seats will all be installed on JetSMARTS Airbus aircraft by 2027.

The seats are designed for short-haul flights. They are reportedly lighter and more comfortable while also being made of many recycled materials. Weighing in at only 18 pounds, the product will help airlines use less fuel. The modular and slim design of the seats will allow passengers to experience enhanced comfort. It will also provide space for additional seats so the airline may carry more passengers. The CEO of Recaro Aircraft Seating and Recaro Holding, Dr. Mark Hiller, addressed the partnership between the two companies. Hiller stated,

“We are pleased to see passengers travel on our SL3710 for the first time as a part of the JetSMART experience.

“By collaborating with the airline from the preliminary stages, we made sure the end result was a sustainable product that met the needs of both JetSMART and their passengers.”

UPDATE: 2022/08/18 12:00 EST BY RILEY PICKETT

Comment to Simple Flying

Simple Flying reached out to Recaro and asked how these seats were more comfortable compared to the traditional seats. A spokesperson had this to say,

"During development, we consider many different factors directly related to comfort. We consult expert ergonomic studies and conduct thorough pressure mapping to ensure the precise cushion thickness, dimensions of the seat and soft goods are properly incorporated to achieve the optimal balance between weight and comfort."

Simple Flying also asked if the weight reduction would be worth the cost of the seats for the airlines. The spokesperson said,

"Each company calculates this differently with their own formulas. From our perspective, the total cost of ownership can be minimized a few different ways. The modular design and durable parts minimize maintenance costs for the airline, while the ergonomically designed, lightweight design structure helps save in fuel costs."

Sustainable future

JetSMART and Recaro have managed to assist one another with their goals of creating a more sustainable future. The lighter-weight seats will allow the airline to consume less fuel, leading to a decrease in emissions and an increase in profit margins as operating costs decrease. The seats were constructed of recycled leather. The manufacturer plans to continue using recycled leather for the additional seats to promote sustainability as much as it can.

The CEO of JetSMART, Estuardo Ortiz, stated that the new seats would add comfort and sustainability to the airline as recycled materials are used and fuel consumption decreases. Ortiz stated,

“We worked closely with RECARO to develop a sustainable seat which saves fuel and reduces emissions, by being ultralight and using recycled leather. This new technology allows to add another key component to our Ultra-Low-Cost model and delivers a comfortable experience to our passengers,"

Currently, the Airbus A321neo is being used to transport passengers on short-haul routes for the Chilean airline. The SL3710 is used by a number of other low-cost and short-haul carriers around the world, including Wizz Air and Cebu Pacific.

What do you think of this announcement? Let us know in the comments below.