American Airlines is facing delays in the introduction of its newest onboard innovations due to delivery delays from Boeing. The carrier is reducing service on 12 routes as part of major changes to its wide-body network. This includes delaying the debut of its new Flagship Business Suites and premium economy products that were set to launch on a special new “787-9P” Dreamliner configuration.
Originally, these new seats were supposed to be introduced on the airline’s longest route from Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, Australia. However, due to ongoing delivery delays, American will operate this flight using an existing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with its current business-class pods and premium economy recliners.
The carrier does not have an updated timeline for when the new onboard products will be introduced. American is also planning to retrofit existing Boeing 777-300ERs with the new products, including a new four-seat business-class-plus Flagship Suite Preferred section.
Despite the delays, American is committed to offering a comprehensive global network and will continue to provide service on 55 long-haul international routes this winter. The carrier is making adjustments to its schedule to accommodate affected customers and expects to grow full-year capacity by single digits in line with its guidance.
While the delivery delays are impacting the entire industry, American is working to mitigate the impact on its operations and is focusing on increasing regional flying across the Sunbelt and in its Chicago hub. Customers can expect to see these changes reflected in the airline’s schedule by Sunday, April 28.