January 7, 2016 – When it comes to announcements of new cabin product, one airline piques the interest of the flying public more than any other. No, it isn’t Etihad, it is Irish low-cost carrier, Ryanair, which has been rumored in the past to be fitting everything from standing seats to coin-access lavatories to its cabins. The airline’s sneak reveal of its forthcoming Boeing 737-800 interiors may therefore come as a disappointment for some because… they look better.
Ryanair passengers have recently been benefitting from the airline’s ‘Always Getting Better’ policy, which began in 2014 with several initiatives to improve customer service and axe unpopular fees, and in turn the airline has seen passenger numbers and profits reach record levels.
The next deliveries of the B737-800 to the airline will feature the Boeing Sky Interior architecture, which brings in a greater feeling of space in the cabin, through features such as sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, and a customizable LED lighting system. To further improve the experience, the rather bold yellow accents of the current Ryanair B737-800 fleet have been dialled out, most noticeably on the overhead stowage bins and branding panels, while the slimline seats have a little more sculpting in the padding.
Will Ryanair’s further good treatment of its passengers lead to further growth in profits? We will be keeping an eye on this interesting airline…
Below: The current interiors use bold yellows and even bolder advertising ploys to catch the eye and increase ancillary revenues, but Ryanair has found that its more subtle Always Getting Better tactics are making passengers happier, which is in turn leading to record profits. Photo credit: RuthannOC
