After approximately a year of delay, American Airlines received the first two of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which feature a premium-heavy seating arrangement. The aircraft are part of a plan to enhance the customer experience with its long-haul fleet. These two jets, expected to serve both domestic and international routes, were delivered on April 29 to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. One jet came from Seattle Paine Field International Airport, and the other from Charleston International Airport in South Carolina, marking the start of a series of upcoming deliveries.
The aircraft come equipped with American Airlines’ new Flagship Suite premium seating. The airline’s Vice President of Customer Experience, Julie Rat, stated, “We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American. The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”
The newly delivered Dreamliners have a seating capacity of 244, including 51 Flagship Suite seats and 32 premium economy seats. The Flagship Suite provides additional amenities such as privacy doors and lie-flat seating, contributing to a 45% increase in premium seating for American Airlines’ long-haul fleet over the next few years.
There is speculation regarding the deployment of these aircraft in commercial service. According to JonNYC, a social media commentator, potential routes include daily flights between Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as between Chicago and London starting in June. Additional routes could be added later in the summer months.
Beyond the 787-9 Dreamliners, American Airlines plans to extend this premium seating upgrade to its Boeing 777-300ER planes. Once these aircraft undergo retrofitting, the international first class will no longer be available, according to aviation sources.
Additionally, the United States Department of Transportation recently approved American Airlines’ new Flagship Suite business class seats, confirming their compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act. The approval requires the airline to provide specialized training for transferring passengers with limited mobility, as well as annual refresher courses for its employees.
