737 Space Bins at 737 Configuration Studio

The Space Bins will become available in Boeing 737s next year.

(Image by Marian Lockhart/Boeing )

Alaska Airlines will be the first carrier to get Boeing's innovative Space Bins, which will significantly increase cabin storage for carry-on baggage.

The larger overhead bins have a similar look and feel to Alaska's current Boeing Sky Interior pivot bins yet hold more bags, according to a news release issued by Alaska Airlines.

Space Bins on an Alaska Airlines 737-900ER will hold as many as 174 standard carry-on bags, a 48 percent increase compared to current bins that hold up to 117 bags. Space Bins are deep enough to store nonstandard items, such as a guitar. Space Bins will arrive on all next-generation 737 and 737 Max airplanes delivered to Alaska Airlines starting in late 2015.

When open, the bin's bottom edge hangs about two inches lower, which means people don't have to lift their bags as high to load them. The deeper bins allow more bags to be stowed, and let customers load overstuffed bags with less struggle.

That should cut boarding times, improve on-time performance and require less intervention from flight attendants, according to the airline.

The 737 is the world's best-selling single-aisle airplane, but Boeing is committed to continuous improvements that make it even better. Alaska Airlines flies an all-Boeing fleet of 737 airplanes. The carrier has 66 firm orders for 737-900ERs and 737 MAX aircraft to be delivered through 2022.

-- Terry Richard