American Unveils New Premium Seating
Flagship Suites and redesigned premium economy cabins will debut aboard long-haul Dreamliners and A321XLRs in 2024
Boeing 787-9 Flagship Suite / Photo: Courtesy of American Airlines
American Airlines has unveiled the new premium Flagship Suite for its business class cabin and reimagined premium economy seating on board its long-haul Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The carrier says it will start taking deliveries in 2024.
The Flagship Suites will feature fully-flat seats, a privacy door, direct aisle access, a lounge seating option and more personal storage space. The Dreamliners will have 51 suites in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, while the A321XLR will offer 20 suite seats in a 1-1 herringbone layout.
The Flagship Suite on the Boeing 787-9 offers more comfort with lie-flat seating and can also convert to a chaise lounge position / Photo: Courtesy of American Airlines
The new premium economy seating will feature headrest wings to increase privacy, larger entertainment screens and double the in-seat storage space. The cabins aboard the 787-9s will offer 32 seats, while the A321XLRs will have 12 of the new seats.
In addition, American will also retrofit its 20 Boeing 777-300E aircraft to offer the Flagship Suites, starting in late 2024. These aircraft will feature more premium seats than the current layout, with 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.
The Airbus A321XLR will have 20 Flagship Suite® seats when it is delivered in 2024 / Photo: Courtesy of American Airlines
American will also retrofit its 20 Boeing 777-300E aircraft to offer the Flagship Suites in late 2024. These aircraft will feature more premium seats than the current layout, with 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.
The airline will also retrofit its existing 16 A321T aircraft to align with the rest of its A321 fleet, but it will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston.
“We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American,” said Julie Rath, VP of customer experience. “The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”
With the introduction of new interiors, which were designed by Seattle-based aircraft interior company Teague, American says it expanding premium seating on its long-haul fleet by more than 45 percent by 2026.
