American Airlines will equip its oldest long-haul aircraft with beautiful new seats
American Airlines will equip its oldest long-haul aircraft with the sleekest new business class suites.
The Fort Worth-based airline on Thursday announced plans for a “top-to-bottom” cabin overhaul of its Boeing 777-200ERs.
That includes outfitting its main long-haul aircraft with the airline’s beautiful new flagship suites — handsome lie-flat offerings introduced last summer with sliding privacy doors.
The move would represent a major upgrade for a plane that American flies on more long-haul routes than any other aircraft.
American Airlines’ new flagship suite
American Airlines launched its new flagship suite on its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in June to much fanfare. These seats are proving to be one of the most coveted miles redemptions on flights from the U.S. to Europe this summer.
The new flagship will also appear on its upcoming Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which is expected to enter service before the end of 2025.
American Airlines also previously announced plans to update 20 of its newer, larger Boeing 777-300ERs with new business class seats and refreshed interiors.
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How about Boeing 777-200ER?
But questions have arisen about the future of its decades-old 777-200ER. It is a wide-body aircraft of which it has more fleets (47) than any other twin-aisle jet and is a staple of its transatlantic services.
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On Thursday, the company confirmed they will be undergoing a complete revamp, including the most high-end business-grade product the company has to offer, as well as new seat-back entertainment.
American Airlines executives said on a third-quarter earnings call that the planes will have 25% more lie-flat and premium economy seats.
The 777-200 currently has 37 lie-flat business class pods and 24 premium economy recliners.
bottom line
As these cabin upgrades are completed, they should significantly enhance the onboard experience for passengers on many high-traffic international routes.
It’s American’s latest move to catch up with top rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, whose massive offering of premium seat options has helped those airlines post some of the industry’s highest profits in recent years.
“We are interested in serving our customers and meeting demand,” American Airlines Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer Steve Johnson said on a conference call Thursday.
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