American Airlines remains sole US operator of Airbus A319-115 variant

American Airlines announced in March 2024 that it would retrofit its A320 family aircraft, including the A319-115s, to address the demand for premium travel experiences. These updates, under Project Oasis, are expected to commence in spring 2025 and involve removing seatback screens, installing new seats, adding power outlets, and expanding overhead compartments.

The update will add more first-class seats, with criticism that the new configuration might resemble ultra-low-cost carrier layouts, limiting legroom. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have pursued an opposite strategy, adding seatback screens to their cabins.

American Airlines is shifting its focus to wireless inflight entertainment and connectivity, working with Intelsat to install high-speed WiFi on their fleet. Kimberly Cisek, Vice President of Customer Service, remarked, “What we have invested in is having the most high-speed WiFi on all of our narrow-body aircraft as well as entertainment for our customers, so we’ll continue to invest in that space as we move forward.”

American Airlines still claims to provide the fastest WiFi available on flights, with content options including over 1,500 selections available for streaming on personal devices. However, the internet browsing option remains limited without extra payment. Delta and JetBlue offer free full internet access, while United allows free messaging on social media platforms.

Despite these changes, the A319-115's current configuration is only temporary. American Airlines remains committed to meeting rising demand for more luxurious travel experiences while maintaining the aircraft's signature speed in inflight connectivity.