American 787s Ready to Usher in a New Business Travel Era
Get ready for a standout update, folks! American Airlines is on the brink of unveiling its latest business class, which might hit the skies in a matter of weeks.
American’s Delayed Boeing 787s: On the Horizon?
American Airlines, with its armada of 59 Boeing 787s, hasn’t welcomed a new wide-body beauty in the hangar since May 2023. Upcoming, we have 30 more 787-9s en route. The kicker? These are to be ultra-premium with just 244 seats on board. It’s like they’re about to drop the mic and walk away.
Originally, the plan was to introduce the first of these snazzy planes in the summer of 2024, with a smooth entry into service slated for October that year. Then, reality struck—Boeing, with its endless stream of glitches, derailed the timeline.
Fast forward to April 2024, American let slip that the arrival of these planes was anyone’s guess. A glimmer of hope now shines through the airline clouds. Word is that two new Dreamliners could land in their fleet by April 2025, taking to the skies shortly after touchdown.
Rumor has it AA might extend the life of their 777-200 fleet. What’s the magic number here? Only time will tell. Also, look forward to seeing 11 new 787s this year. It starts with two come April.
— JonNYC
So, no official routes for these birds yet and, let’s be honest, anything with Boeing is as stable as a jenga tower in a toddler’s nursery. But hope prevails!
And it’s not just American dancing this delivery delay waltz. Other airlines are also left twiddling their thumbs. Case in point: the Saudi newbie, Riyadh Air, has had its big reveal hampered by these delays.
Rolling Out the Red Carpet: American Flagship Business Suites
The moment American embraces these 787s, the capacity for long-haul flights gets a boost—perfect timing ahead of peak travel season. But here’s what’ll really turn heads: posh cabins with more breathing room.
Current 787-9s host 30 business class seats, but the new kids on the block will strut in with 51. They’re geared to dazzle with American’s brand spanking new passenger experience — think Flagship Business Suites and the super chic front row Flagship Suite Preferred.
These plush seats stroll in on the Adient Ascent platform, the same style you’ll find on Qatar Airways’ well-revered 787-9s.
The 777-300ERs in American’s collection aren’t being left in the shadows. They’re slated to be re-jigged too, making way for the top-tier cabins of tomorrow. Unfortunately, first class will be shown the door, giving these planes a delay-backed makeover by late 2025.
With the current timetable, the first to taste these luxury upgrades will be the newly arrived 787-9s and then the 777-300ERs next in line.
The Final Word
American Airlines’ chic, new Boeing 787s have been playing a flirtatious game of ‘maybe, maybe not’ with delivery schedules. But fingers crossed, two 787s might just arrive in April 2025 and start flying not long after.
Please stick to the plan, powers that be, because watching American’s Flagship Business Suites take off would be delightful. These lavish settings will be mirrored on 777-300ERs if all goes to plan later this year.
What do you think of the buzz around American’s new 787 arrivals? In the meantime, if you’re eyeing a getaway, consider the Val Seny ski resort for your next adventure.