American Airlines (AA) will no longer offer first class on its international flights. The choice aligns the carrier with competitors like Delta Air Lines (DL) and United (UA), which had already dumped first class on international services in 1998 and 2016, respectively. Let’s look more closely at what American Airlines has in store.
First vs. business class: American Airlines goes for business
American Airlines officially announced it is getting rid of its first class product on international services. Instead, the carrier will expand its business class, which, according to the airline, aligns more with customer demand.
Currently, American Airlines offers its first class product on the carrier’s 20 Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus 321T. Both aircraft will be retrofitted, and a brand-new business class cabin will replace the first class. However, American Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Vasu Raja, pointed out that the carrier will only phase out its first class product on long-haul services. Therefore, virtually all American Airlines’ narrowbodies will continue to feature a first class at the front of the aircraft.
In a call with American Airlines’ investors, Raja clarified that the carrier will no longer offer first class on international services because there is no longer demand for this kind of product in the long-haul market. Consequently, from a commercial perspective, there is no point in keeping a luxurious class that doesn’t sell. Instead, it is high time American Airlines expanded its business class, thus boosting revenues, or, in Raja’s words:
“The quality of the business class seat has improved so much. And frankly, by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for.”
Mike Boyd, an aviation consultant, stressed how today’s business class product at most airlines mirrors what would have been called “first class” two decades ago. Therefore, what airlines like American Airlines are doing, i.e., expanding the business class cabin and removing first class, is simply a “name changing” strategy, more than an actual cabin class revolution.
American Airlines’ new Flagship Suites: a “masked” first class
Mike Boyd’s words actually mirror American Airlines’ strategy, with the carrier recently revealing its new business class product, the “Flagship Suites”.
Lie-flat seats with a chaise option and a privacy door. This is what American Airlines’ premium passengers now want and are ready to pay for; little it matters if this product is sold as a first or business class seat. The new Flagship Suite has been designed to luxuriously fill the void left by the removal of first class from international flights in line with the latest long-haul premium market trends.
The new business class will be installed on the carrier’s Airbus 321XLR and Boeing 787-9, delivered from 2024 onwards. Additionally, the airline stated that all American Airlines 20 Boeing 777-300ERs will be retrofitted with the Flagship Suites starting in late 2024. A statement released by the airline about the new business class product reads:
“We believe our Flagship Suite product provides customers with what they desire most on a long-haul flight: privacy doors, lie-flat seating, direct aisle access and more personal space.”
Business class and premium economy: the American way of flying
American Airlines is also expanding its long-haul premium capacity by adding more premium economy seats to its international services.
Back in 2016, American Airlines was the first carrier in the US to launch the winning premium economy product in the long-haul market. Six years later, American has redesigned its premium economy product to offer even more comfort, offering enhanced privacy and doubling the in-seat storage space.
As for the new Flagship Suites, the new premium economy will be offered on the Boeing 787-9, the Airbus 321XLR, and the retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER from 2024. The Boeing 787-9 will feature 51 Flagship Suites and 32 premium economy seats, while the Airbus 321XLR will have 20 Flagship Suites and 12 premium economy seats. On the other hand, the retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER will offer 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 premium economy seats.
With the roll-out of the new business and premium economy product and the removal of first class, the premium seating on American Airlines’ long-haul fleet will improve by a staggering 45% by 2026.
What do you think of American Airlines’ decision to eliminate first class from international services? Let us know in the comment section below!