[PHOTOS] EL AL Launches Collins Silhouette MOVE Divider on Redesigned 737-800
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EL AL Israel Airlines is the launch customer for the Collins Silhouette MOVE cabin divider from Collins Aerospace, which has helped to increase capacity on board the airline’s newly redesigned Boeing 737-800 fleet.
EL AL Israel Airlines (EL AL) recently reconfigured 13 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will serve on its European routes. The airline’s CEO, Gonen Usishkin, said the redesign better aligns the passenger experience on board its 737s with that of it’s 787 Dreamliner long-haul fleet. He described it as “a substantial improvement of the flight experience for our customers” and said that “the increased efficiency in the aircraft configuration will enable EL AL to be more competitive.”
The introduction of the Collins Silhouette MOVE cabin divider, which won a Crystal Cabin Award in the “Cabin Systems” category in 2018, allows passengers in the last row of business class maximum recline, while also offering improved legroom and under-seat stowage for passengers in the first row of economy class.
Alongside an adjustment to the storage area in the rear galley and the introduction of slimline seats, Collins Silhouette MOVE increased capacity in the cabin. “The additional floor space allowed us to increase the number of seats in economy by 12 as well as offer a standard seat pitch of 29-30 inches throughout economy,” explained Stanley Morais, deputy director, International Affairs at EL AL Israel Airlines. “We have added a row of preferred seats offering 33 inches [of pitch] as well. With the Silhouette MOVE separator we could offer the same number of seats in business class and increase the total seat availability.”
In economy class, EL AL introduced Collins Aerospace’s Meridian seats. There are 150 in total, including 18 preferred seats. All 150 economy-class seatbacks are equipped with stands to hold passengers’ tablets or smartphones in place. Economy-class passengers also have access to USB-A and C outlets to keep their devices powered throughout the flight.
In business class, the carrier opted for the MiQ seat from Collins Aerospace. There are 16 business-class seats in total, offering passengers a 42-inch pitch and 10-inch recline. These seats also include USB-A 115V outlets, and stands to hold personal electronic devices. “It is never just one or two elements but the entire design and comfort of the product,” Morais said of the airline’s choice of the MiQ seat. “Some features that stood out were the seat storage offering, including a water bottle-holder and tablet-holder built into the tray as well as both USB and PC power outlets. The overall seat comfort for the passengers was a key consideration as well.”
Further changes to the aircraft cabin interior include new carpets and curtains, the installation of roomier overhead bins and the replacement of fluorescent lighting with bluish LEDs. The airline has also introduced a wide range of new on-demand in-flight entertainment content, which can be streamed via the EL AL DreamStream system to passengers’ personal electronic devices.