In November, Delta picked up its first Next-Generation 737-900ER from Boeing. Both companies trumpeted the new jet's upsides, like LED mood lighting, bigger overhead bins, and a personal entertainment system and USB power outlet for every passenger.
Neither talked much about the bathroom, where the news isn't so great for passengers.
The updated 737 comes with the modular advanced lavatory system, specially designed by B/E Aerospace to save room — enough to fit six more seats on board.
That's why Boeing can give Delta "the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost" of any of its single-aisle planes. And why Delta has ordered 100 of the new 737-900ERs.
The standard plane bathroom is hardly spacious, so how'd they shrink it down? Aviation consultants and enthusiasts airlineguys just took their first ride in the new 737-900ER, and shared a photo that reveals the trick: No more counter.
Counter space has been eliminated to make lav narrower > more seats in cabin. #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/3tZQnSzDuY
— airlineguys (@airlineguys) February 14, 2014Apparently, the tighter space isn't so bad:
@thatjohn Not as narrow as I thought it would be. Shoulders are a few inches from touching each side of the lav. Down there is fine ;-)
— airlineguys (@airlineguys) February 14, 2014Have you spent time in the shrunken lav? Let us know how it was @BI_GettingThere or in the comments.
