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American Airlines debuts Airbus A321XLR with Flagship Suites on December 18

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American Airlines debuts Airbus A321XLR with Flagship Suites on December 18
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Robert D. Isom, CEO and President | American Airlines

American Airlines will introduce its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft on December 18, marking the first time a U.S. airline operates this model. The inaugural flight will travel nonstop from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

The A321XLR features the airline’s latest Flagship Suites with sliding privacy doors, as well as a premium economy section and a main cabin with updated design elements. According to American Airlines, the plane is designed for improved fuel efficiency and is intended for both transcontinental and future international routes.

"Whether customers are traveling from coast to coast or across the ocean, American's newest aircraft demonstrates our commitment to providing a premium travel experience," said Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer at American Airlines.

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Tickets for the new aircraft are available through February 11. Business-class suites on the inaugural flight sold out quickly, and front-cabin award tickets for subsequent flights have been in high demand.

American Airlines received its first A321XLR from Airbus’ Hamburg facility this week. The company initially ordered 50 of these jets in the late 2010s and plans to deploy them on high-demand domestic routes before expanding internationally next year.

This delivery coincides with announcements that American Airlines will also update interiors on its Boeing 777-200ER fleet and plans similar updates for its larger 777-300ERs. The changes include introducing the Flagship Suite concept across more long-haul aircraft.

American’s new configuration aims to enhance passenger comfort on both domestic and international flights while offering increased flexibility for serving long-haul destinations that may not justify larger planes like the Boeing 777 or 787 Dreamliner.

Organizations Included in this History
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