American Airlines will no longer offer first class on its international flights. The
choice aligns the carrier with competitors like Delta Air Lines and United, which had
already dumped first class on international services in 1998 and 2016, respectively.
Let's look more closely at what American Airlines has in store.
While we speculated on this likelihood in an earlier video, American Airlines has now
officially announced it is getting rid of its first class product on international services.
Instead, the carrier will expand its business class, aligning more with customer demand.
Currently, American Airlines offers its first class product on the carrier's 20
Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus 321T. Both aircraft will be retrofitted,
and a brand-new business class cabin will replace the first class. However,
American Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, Vasu Raja, pointed out that the carrier will only phase
out its first class product on long-haul services. Therefore, virtually all American
Airlines' narrowbodies will continue to feature a first class at the front of the aircraft.
In a call with American Airlines' investors, Raja clarified that the
carrier will no longer offer first class on international services because there is no
longer demand for this kind of product in the long-haul market. In his own words, Raja said:
"The quality of the business class seat has improved so much. And frankly,
by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats,
which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for."
Mike Boyd, an aviation consultant, stressed how today's business class product at most
airlines mirrors what would have been called "first class" two decades ago.
Therefore, what airlines like American Airlines are doing,
is simply a "name changing" strategy, more than an actual cabin class revolution.
Boyd's words actually mirror American Airlines' strategy, with the carrier
recently revealing its new business class product, the quote-unquote "Flagship Suites".
Lie-flat seats with a chaise option and a privacy door. This is what American
Airlines' premium passengers now want and are ready to pay for;
it’s irrelevant if this product is sold as a first or business class seat.
The new business class will be installed on the carrier's Airbus 321XLR and Boeing 787-9,
delivered from 2024 onwards. Additionally, the airline stated that all American Airlines
20 Boeing 777-300ERs will be retrofitted with the Flagship Suites starting in late
2024. A statement released by the airline about the new business class product reads:
"We believe our Flagship Suite product provides customers with what they desire most on a
long-haul flight: privacy doors, lie-flat seating, direct aisle access and more personal space."
American Airlines is also expanding its long-haul premium capacity by
adding more premium economy seats to its international services.
Back in 2016, American Airlines was the first carrier in the US to
launch the winning premium economy product in the long-haul market.
Six years later, American has redesigned this product to offer even more comfort and privacy.
With the roll-out of the new business and premium
economy product and the removal of first class, the premium seating on
American Airlines' long-haul fleet will improve by a staggering 45% by 2026.
What do you think of American Airlines' decision to eliminate
first class from international services? Let us know in the comment section below!