American Airlines has begun commercial service with its first retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER, launching the widebody from New York on a route to Buenos Aires. The reconfigured aircraft carries 330 seats, including 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats, 44 Premium Economy seats, 30 Main Cabin Extra seats and 186 standard Main Cabin seats, and removes Flagship First from the type.
The update lifts the aircraft’s premium count to 144 seats, up from 116 in the previous layout, and gives American its most premium-heavy widebody. The cabin redesign features privacy-door suites and a refreshed layout aimed at strengthening the carrier’s long-haul proposition. American will no longer sell Flagship First on the 777-300ER for travel beginning 19 November, as the airline continues to reposition its widebody fleet around premium cabins.
The retrofit also increases overall seat capacity from 304 to 330 while leaving economy seating broadly intact. American has framed the aircraft as part of a long-term effort to extend the 777-300ER’s relevance for another decade, with the refurbished jets expected to play a larger role on key New York and other long-haul routes.