JetBlue debuted its first reconfigured Airbus A320 on Wednesday
on a flight between Boston and Bermuda.
The remodeled interior is denser than JetBlue's traditional
configuration, with 162 seats rather than the 150 seats its A320s have sported
since 2000, but it is also more modern. The seats are equipped with power
outlets and USB ports and the televisions are high definition.
To make room for the extra seats, JetBlue is reducing the
space between rows in economy from 34 inches to 32 inches.
JetBlue expects to restyle approximately a dozen of its 130
A320s this year. The carrier said it will ramp up the pace next year, using a
different seat.
The 2019 seats, provided by avionics company Rockwell
Collins, will have 18 inches of width, which JetBlue said is the widest
available on an A320. They'll also have JetBlue's first adjustable headrests
and a 10.1-inch high-definition screen featuring more than 100 television
channels and an expanded collection of movies and video games.
The aircraft densification notwithstanding, JetBlue
executive vice president Marty St. George said the new interiors are in keeping
with the carrier's strong reputation for comfort and service.
"JetBlue has built its innovative reputation on
offering our customers the very best products and a level of service they won't
find on another U.S. airline and this update ensures we remain the go-to choice
for flyers who expect nothing but the best," he said in a statement.