American Airlines Debuts Refurbished Boeing 777-300ER with 144 Premium Seats for Long-Haul Routes
American Airlines on Wednesday introduced its first refurbished Boeing 777-300ER, featuring 144 premium seats, including 70 lie-flat suites with doors, for long-haul routes to London, Tokyo, and Sydney. The carrier plans to retrofit all 20 of its 777-300ERs by 2027 and will apply a similar, smaller layout to its Airbus A321XLRs. The upgrade is part of its strategy to catch up with rivals Delta and United in serving high-spending travelers.
American Airlines continued its push to upgrade the premium cabins of its wide-body aircraft, operating the first refurbished Boeing 777-300ER on Wednesday. The aircraft type is used on popular long-haul international routes including London, Tokyo, and Sydney. The new configuration places 144 premium seats in the forward section of the wide-body jet, of which 70 are lie-flat seats with sliding doors, part of the flagship suite area. In 2022, American Airlines said it planned to eliminate international first class on most of its aircraft, opting instead for a single, larger forward premium cabin. Due to supplier delays, the suites only entered service in 2025.
Lie-flat seats can generate close to $10,000 in revenue on some long-haul international routes, while standard economy seats bring in about $2,000 or less. The new layout also includes a premium economy cabin with 44 seats, featuring privacy headrest wings and adjustable calf and footrests, plus 30 main-cabin extra-legroom seats. The refurbished aircraft's main cabin has 186 standard seats. American Airlines said all 20 of its Boeing 777-300ERs will be retrofitted by 2027, and its Airbus A321XLRs will adopt a similar but smaller configuration.
American Airlines has been catching up with rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, both of which started serving high-spending travelers earlier. The new suites are a key part of that strategy. The carrier is also focused on developing its frequent-flyer program, improving on-time performance, and expanding its route network. Last week, the airline announced seven new international routes to be added in 2027, though none will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER.