On December 11, 1971, Braniff International unveiled its second new look since 1965, dubbed 727 Braniff Place that featured new High Wide and Handsome Wide Body Interiors for its Boeing 727 Fleet. Braniff Chairman Harding L. Lawrence had announced the new interior and exterior treatment earlier on September 21, 1971.
Lawrence, at a special press conference at the Boeing Plant at Renton, Washington, spoke with the national media about the new Wide Body Interiors that would be installed on Braniff Boeing 727 aircraft beginning in November 1971, and completed by September 1972. A full-sized mockup of the Wide Body Cabin installed in a Narrow Body Jet was there for all to admire and enjoy. Lawrence explained that the highly anticipated introduction of Braniff’s 747 Braniff Place interior in January 1971, was so successful and popular that it lead Braniff to decide to install similar interiors in its narrow body Aircraft such as the 727, the backbone of the Braniff International fleet.
Braniff’s Chairman noted that the new interiors would be used throughout the Airline’s domestic system as well as Mexico and because it would be a new address in the sky it would be dubbed 727 Braniff Place. New 2 and 2 seating would be installed in Braniff jets beginning in October 1971 and completed by September 1972. The new 2 and 2 seating would still feature six abreast seating but the center seat back, if not occupied, could be pulled down to create a convenient work space table for the window and aisle passenger giving Braniff’s Coach Class business traveler special attention not seen before in the airline industry. Braniff’s sumptuous First Class Cabin continued to feature lavishly padded and wide seating in a soothing solid red fabric along with copious amounts of legroom.
The Wide Body Interiors were installed exclusively by Braniff maintenance personnel at the Operations and Maintenance Base at Dallas Love Field with special kits provided by Boeing. The new interior design was created by Braniff’s industrial design firm Harper + George of New York City, featured a light and airy cabin with high sculpted overhead ceilings. The previous overhead open shelves would be replaced by closed door compartments for each seat grouping of three, which would keep luggage out of sight and safely stored to prevent falling during turbulence.
Braniff Airways, Incorporated, Copyright, Text and Video
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