New suites equipped with sliding doors to be introduced by American Airlines, following some schedule setbacks.
American Airlines is about to level up, introducing slider-door suites for some of their planes, making a splash in the competitive aviation market. Set to debut in June, these snazzy new seating arrangements are a key component of their strategy to woo high-spenders away from other airlines.
Back in September 2022, American flaunted the preview of this swanky new design, though planned delivery was initially set for 2024. Like most airlines, American faced delays from suppliers, with the intricate first- and business-class seats causing holdups in the delivery of new aircraft.
American's Boeing 787-9 will serve as the stage for this game-changer, with the first performance scheduled for June 5 between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. Additional shows will follow, including Philadelphia to London on Aug. 6, Philadelphia to Zurich on Sept. 3, and a flight between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Brisbane, Australia, set to take off on Oct. 26.
Curious about the price of a front-row ticket? A roundtrip between Philadelphia and London in the "Flagship business class" will set you back $5,342, according to American's website. The spacious cabin of the 787-9 will boast 51 newly-minted "Flagship Suites," which will serve as the new international business class.
In 2022, American declared its intention to ditch international first class on many planes in favor of a larger premium cabin at the front. They'll be retrofitting older 777-300ER jets and adopting a similar, albeit smaller, layout on Airbus A321XLRs.
Feeling left out? Fear not! The trend of sliding doors has swept across the industry, with rivals like JetBlue and Chile-based Latam Airlines jumping on the bandwagon. Even superstars like Delta and United aren't silent on this topic, with rumors swirling about United's upcoming premium seating upgrade—possibly featuring sliding doors as well. Delta's Delta One suites already offer the feature, and United didn't comment on the matter.
American isn't resting on its laurels, though. They're also amping up other amenities, like offering free Wi-Fi to loyalty program members, a perk Delta already provides, with United poised to join the party this year.
Sources:
- [1] “Etihad Airways Uses Airbus A321LR for World's First Narrowbody First-Class Suites.” aviationtribune.com
- [2] “United Airlines gets ready for Dreamliner revamp with business-class suites, longer flight range.” cnn.com
- [3] “Riyadh Air’s first Airbus A320neo has taken to the skies.” ch-aviation.com
- [4] “Riyadh Air's A320neo ARJ21X with Boeing 787-9 'business elite' cabin.” aircraftinteriorsintelligence.com
- American Airlines' strategy to attract high-spenders includes investments in technology, such as the introduction of sliding-door suites on Boeing 787-9 planes, a move that is following the pace set by other airlines like JetBlue and Chile-based Latam Airlines.
- In the competitive finance sector of the aerospace industry, American Airlines is planning to add free Wi-Fi for loyalty program members, a perk that is already offered by Delta and will be offered by United this year.
- Besides the shift in seating arrangements, American Airlines has also declared intentions to upgrade older 777-300ER jets and Airbus A321XLRs, featuring a larger premium cabin at the front in place of international first class, in alignment with the changing trends in the economy.
- The new business class on American Airlines' Boeing 787-9, with its 51 Flagship Suites, promises a pricey yet comfortable travel experience, charging around $5,342 for a roundtrip between Philadelphia and London.
- As announced in 2022, American Airlines plans to buy back some aircraft and adopt a similar sliding-door suite design on their Airbus A321XLRs, following the premiere of this design on the Boeing 787-9, set to debut in June 2023.
