Skift Take
Did you know how much effort went into designing a plane's cabin? Skift got the scoop from Allegiant Air, which will take its first new airplane from Airbus later this month.
On 18 planes in Allegiant Air's fleet, a bright orange stripe runs along the overhead bins, stretching from front door to the rear bathrooms. It's an accent familiar to anyone who has flown EasyJet, the European discounter.
For its 20-year history, Allegiant, one of three ultra low cost U.S. airlines, has bought used airplanes. First, the airline took gas-guzzling MD-80s, but more recently it has preferred newer and more fuel-efficient Airbus A319s and A320s. They often come from EasyJet and three other airlines — Iberia and Vueling in Spain, and Cebu Pacific in the Philippines.
United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines — all used-plane buyers — often spend months and significant sums reconfiguring cabins so they look identical to their other aircraft. But usually, planes join Allegiant’s fleet looking as they did when they flew from Manila to Butuan for Cebu Pacific, or from London to Palma de Majorca for EasyJet.
Removing extras other airlines added — like orange stripes — is expensive, and Allegiant CEO Maury Gallagher figures passengers prefer cheap tickets more than matching interiors. Recently, Allegiant started retrofitting clear outliers, like one plane with an unusual tree pattern on its side walls. But when possible, it prefers only to paint the outside of planes, replace the carpet, and add seats and row numbers. Overhead bins don't get touched.
"We just took what we could get," Brian Davis, Allegiant's vice president for marketing, said of the company's historic strategy. "Our customers didn't care."
Given Gallagher's frugality, few expected Allegiant would buy new planes. But the used market can be tricky because airlines only can acquire aircraft when another carrier or a lessor will sell. Last year, Allegiant wanted planes faster so it ordered 12 new Airbus A320s, and the first delivery is May 15. They're not as cheap as used ones, but Allegiant likely got a good deal since Airbus soon will stop making the A320 in favor of a next-generation model, the A320neo. It's like buying last year's car model after it has been discontinued.
As part of the purchase price, Airbus configures each plane as the customer wants, including sidewalls, seat
