American Airlines has introduced a new high-premium configuration for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. The airline currently operates 134 widebody aircraft, with half being Boeing 787s in both -8 and -9 variants. Of the 30 Boeing 787-9s in service, eight are configured with just 244 seats, compared to the standard 285-seat layout.
These eight aircraft, referred to as "787-9P" models—the "P" denoting "premium"—were delivered between April and August 2025. American Airlines plans to add more of these low-capacity jets through 2029. The new cabins feature updated technology and a higher proportion of premium seating than previous configurations. According to American Airlines, this move is intended as a response to United Airlines' use of its own premium-heavy aircraft on certain routes.
The seating arrangement for the new configuration includes 51 Flagship Business suites based on the Adient Ascent platform, each equipped with privacy doors and arranged in a reverse herringbone layout. This is an increase of 30 business-class seats over the original design. There are also 32 premium economy seats and only 143 main cabin seats, making it one of the most premium-focused layouts in American's fleet outside of its Boeing 777-300ER.
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