American Airlines launches Recaro R2 seats on Embraer E175

American Airlines is the first U.S. airline to introduce Recaro's R2 economy seats on its Embraer E175 aircraft. The seats are part of a cabin refresh program for the carrier's regional operations and will enter service this autumn on American Eagle flights.

Rhonda Crawford, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Design and Strategy, confirmed American is the first U.S. airline to put Recaro seats on an Embraer 175. Recaro Aircraft Seating secured the deal to equip the E175-E1s. This marks the first line-fit installation of Recaro seats on the E175 product line. KLM was the first airline globally to combine the R2 seat with the E175, initially for retrofit and later for line-fit. American announced plans to overhaul its regional jet cabins, including new seating and bins, a year ago.

Recaro R2 seat features and design

The R2 seat is designed for short- and medium-haul flights. It focuses on enhanced personal space and passenger comfort.

A slimmer backrest design provides better knee clearance. Each seat includes a tablet holder and Recaro's signature six-way adjustable headrest. This allows for a more personalized in-flight experience.

Partnership and rollout timeline

The integration follows a three-year partnership between American Airlines and Embraer. It also reflects continued growth in the partnership between Recaro and Embraer. That collaboration has enabled line-fit installations across multiple airlines and aircraft types over the past three years.

Embraer has already delivered the first E175 featuring the new R2 seats. The cabin refresh is viewed as a step to align the legacy E175 cabin experience with that of the newer E2 family of jets. The E1 version of the 175 remains the aircraft of choice in the North American market, as the smaller E175 version of the E2 family did not meet the specific needs of airlines and their union contracts there.

Mark Hiller, CEO of Recaro Aircraft Seating, called the introduction a significant milestone for the company and a sign of his team's dedication. The R2 seats will be trimmed with American Airlines' signature dress covers. These are customized to complement the new interior finishes in the Embraer fleet.

The R2 seats will enter service this autumn on American Airlines' Embraer E175 aircraft as part of the carrier's regional cabin refresh program.