American Airways is within the course of of constructing some main modifications to its lengthy haul passenger expertise. The airline is introducing an all-new enterprise class product, and within the course of, is eliminating “premium” top quality.
This new worldwide passenger expertise will debut on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s, and the airline has simply put its first route with this plane on sale, between Dallas and Brisbane as of October 2024. We now lastly know what the seat map will appear like for this airplane, so I wished to go over all the small print.
American can have 30 premium Boeing 787-9s
American at the moment has 59 Boeing 787s in its fleet, comprised of 37 787-8s (the smaller variant), and 22 787-9s (the bigger variant). At this level, American’s vast physique plane order ebook nonetheless consists of 30 jets, all of that are 787-9s.
American is taking a brand new path with these upcoming 787-9s, as they’re all anticipated to characteristic a distinct passenger expertise, they usually’ll be in a considerably much less dense configuration, so that they’ll be designed for premium and extremely lengthy haul markets. Whereas it’ll take a while for American to take supply of all of those jets, this could symbolize a really good enchancment to the passenger expertise.
American premium Boeing 787-9 structure & seat map
American’s premium Boeing 787-9s will characteristic simply 244 seats, in comparison with the 285 seats that American’s current Boeing 787-9s have. Simply to interrupt that down additional:
- Future 787-9s can have 51 enterprise class seats, 32 premium economic system seats, 18 additional legroom economic system seats, and 143 economic system seats
- Present 787-9s have 30 enterprise class seats, 21 premium economic system seats, 36 additional legroom economic system seats, and 198 economic system seats
So this will probably be some of the sparsely configured Boeing 787-9s on the market, and that interprets to plenty of premium seats.
Now let’s check out what we are able to count on from every cabin on this plane. Notice that there will probably be Viasat Wi-Fi on these jets, which compares very favorably to the Panasonic Wi-Fi you’ll at the moment discover on American’s vast physique fleet.
American’s premium 787-9 enterprise class cabin & seats
American’s premium Boeing 787-9s will characteristic a staggering 51 enterprise class seats. These will probably be reverse herringbone seats with doorways which might be in a 1-2-1 configuration, they usually’ll be unfold throughout two cabins. The ahead cabin can have 32 enterprise class seats, whereas the rear enterprise class cabin can have 19 enterprise class seats. There will probably be a walk-up bar within the heart galley between the 2 cabins.
In enterprise class, American Airways has chosen the Adient Ascent seat, that are comfy reverse herringbone seats with doorways. This must be a really good enchancment over American’s current product. This can be a extremely customizable seat, and it’s one that you simply’ll additionally discover on Qatar Airways’ 787-9s.
American’s premium 787-9 premium economic system cabin & seats
American’s premium Boeing 787-9s will characteristic 32 premium economic system seats. These seats will probably be in a 2-3-2 configuration, and will probably be in a single cabin, between the second and third set of doorways.
American’s new premium economic system product appears to be like nice, in phrases seat finishes, privateness, expertise, and even storage.
American’s premium 787-9 economic system cabin & seats
American’s premium Boeing 787-9s will characteristic simply 161 economic system seats. This cabin will probably be configured in a 3-3-3 structure, and it’s fairly an attention-grabbing setup.
The very first thing to notice is how little Predominant Cabin Further this plane has — there’s no actual Predominant Cabin Further cabin, however somewhat the service’s additional legroom economic system seating will solely be within the two exit rows. So in case you’re touring as a household with younger ones, you received’t be getting additional legroom economic system seating on this plane.
There’s a small mini-cabin behind premium economic system, consisting of rows 20, 21, and 22 (you possibly can really see that two footage up). Then the rear cabin of the plane begins in row 23, and that’s additionally the place a lot of the economic system cabin is.
Don’t count on something revolutionary right here, however there will probably be new cabin finishes, and better high quality leisure screens.
American premium Boeing 787-9 routes & flights
Along with Boeing 787-9s having a brand new passenger expertise, the largest distinction is simply how premium these jets are. American’s current 787-8s have 20 enterprise class seats, current 787-9s have 30 enterprise class seats, and the brand new 787-9s have 51 enterprise class seats. In order that represents a 70-155% improve in enterprise class seats, which is large.
American has struggled for years with the right way to configure its vast physique jets, and we’ve seen configurations modified a number of instances:
- On the one hand, there are synergies to having a constant configuration, in order that planes can simply be cycled all through the system effectively
- However, not all markets have the identical quantity of premium demand; American has typically taken the method of cramming as many seats as attainable into jets, and that has largely utilized to 787s up till now
I think about these 787-9s will primarily be utilized in two methods:
- In markets with numerous premium demand, the place American desires to supply its greatest product; for instance, this would come with flights to London, Tokyo, and so on.
- In extremely lengthy vary markets the place American wants a lighter plane to be able to not take a payload penalty; because the airplane has fewer seats, it additionally weighs much less
So long run, I believe we’ll primarily see the premium 787-9s flying to premium three way partnership hubs. Nonetheless, the primary confirmed route for this plane is Dallas to Brisbane, and clearly the plane will serve that route due to how lengthy it’s, and American needing a lighter plane.
American doesn’t function many extremely lengthy haul flights, but when the airline have been so as to add extra extremely lengthy haul flights sooner or later (prefer to Hong Kong or Singapore), you possibly can count on the premium 787-9 would serve these markets.
Backside line
American Airways will quickly begin taking supply of 30 new Boeing 787-9s, that includes a brand new premium structure. These planes can have new seats in all cabins, together with enterprise class suites with doorways, and an improved premium economic system.
The largest change with this plane is the structure, although. They’ll characteristic simply 244 seats, with an enormous 51-seat enterprise class cabin. I’m excited to see these planes in service quickly.
What do you make of American’s upcoming premium Boeing 787-9s?
