American Airlines announces major interior upgrades for regional jet fleet

The most visible change is the introduction of seat covers that match those found on American’s new Boeing 787-9P and Airbus A321XLR planes. First class seats now have dark blue leather covers with vertical stitching patterns; economy seats use a two-tone blue scheme with similar stitching. Brown headrests are provided for first class and Main Cabin Extra seats, while standard economy seats have dark blue headrests accented with brown sides.

Beyond visual updates, passengers can expect functional improvements such as high-speed Wi-Fi—which has been installed on some regional jets since 2023—and power ports throughout the cabin. These amenities are intended to improve passenger experience and align offerings with what is available on mainline flights.

American Airlines works with five partner airlines for its regional operations: three wholly owned subsidiaries—Envoy Air (operating E170s and E175s), Piedmont Airlines (operating only E145s), and PSA Airlines (operating CRJ700s and CRJ900s)—as well as SkyWest Airlines (flying both Bombardier CRJs and Embraer E-Jets) and Republic Airways (operating only Embraer E-Jets). Of these partners, only Piedmont’s single-class 50-seat fleet will not receive upgraded cabins.

Regional jets generally offer fewer amenities than larger mainline aircraft. By adding Wi-Fi and power ports across its two-class regional fleet, American aims to make passenger experience more consistent regardless of aircraft type.

These changes are part of broader efforts at American Airlines to update branding elements across its fleet—including introducing new seats on long-haul models like the 787-9P and A321XLR—and enhance onboard services such as catering options. The airline seeks to strengthen its market position against competitors like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines by focusing on product consistency across both mainline and regional flights.