The Recaro R2, now flying on American’s E175s (Image via Recaro/Embraer)
American Airlines‘ newest Embraer E175 regional jets feature Recaro’s R2 economy class seats, part of a cabin refresh program for the carrier’s regional operations. These are the first R2 seats to fly with a US-based airline and the first line-fit Recaro seats on the E175 product line.
Our goal is to deliver the elevated experience customers want, while creating greater consistency across the American travel experience.
– Rhonda Crawford, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Design and Strategy, American Airlines
American chose to fit the seats with a tablet holder and Recaro’s trademark six-way headrest to boost comfort on board. The seat design also promises more personal space, thanks to a slimmer backrest, and better kneeroom clearance.
The Recaro R2 flying on American’s E175s include a tablet holder to help boost the entertainment experience. (Image via Recaro/Embraer)
“Seeing our R2 seat enter the U.S. market on an Embraer E175 for the first time with American Airlines is a significant milestone for RECARO and a testament to our team’s dedication and expertise,” added Mark Hiller, CEO and Shareholder of RECARO Aircraft Seating. “It further demonstrates our proven track record for delivering best-in-class seating solutions that our customers trust.”
The integration reflects the continued growth of the partnership between Recaro and Embraer, enabling line-fit installations across multiple airlines and types in the past three yeas. KLM was the first airline to marry the two products together, first for retrofit and then line-fit.
Recaro’s R2 economy class seats are now installed on American’s new E175s coming from the Embraer factory (image via Recaro/Embraer)
The program is also touted by Embraer as part of the effort to more closely align the legacy E175 cabin experience with that of the newer E2 family of jets. The smaller E175 version of the E2 family came up short (or heavy, to be more precise) in terms of meeting the needs of North American airlines and their union contracts. As a result the E1 version of the 175 remains the aircraft of choice in the market. Getting the E1 to feel more like the E2 inside is part of Embraer’s approach to making up that miss.
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About Seth Miller
Seth Miller has over a decade of experience covering the airline industry. With a strong focus on passenger experience, Seth also has deep knowledge of inflight connectivity and loyalty programs. He is widely respected as an unbiased commentator on the aviation industry.
He is frequently consulted on innovations in passenger experience by airlines and technology providers.
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