American Airlines Retrofits Boeing 777 Fleet to Expand Business Class

American Airlines is retrofitting its fleet of 20 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to increase premium seating capacity and attract higher-spending travelers. The airline is phasing out its Flagship First international first-class cabin, with sales for that service ending November 19, and replacing it with an expanded number of business-class seats.

The revamped aircraft will feature 144 premium seats, including 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats equipped with privacy doors. This configuration increases the premium seat percentage from 38% to 44% and raises total aircraft capacity from 304 to 330 passengers.

The first retrofitted plane enters commercial service on September 3 on a route from New York to Buenos Aires, with the full fleet upgrade expected by 2027. This strategy aligns with a broader industry trend among U.S. carriers, as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have previously shifted away from first-class cabins in favor of expanded business-class offerings.