AMERICAN AIRLINES BEGINS
INSTALLATION OF NEXT GENERATION
BUSINESS CLASS PRODUCT
ON ITS FLEET OF BOEING 777 AIRCRAFT
American Airlines announced
today at the National Business Travel Association International Convention
& Exposition in Boston that it is continuing its efforts to ensure
premium passengers enjoy their flying experience by installing next-generation
Business Class seats on its entire fleet of 47 Boeing 777 aircraft,
while adding its luxurious Flagship Suite® seats to the
First Class cabins of 777s that do not currently feature the popular
product.
American Airlines
has steadily invested in aircraft refurbishments to make travel more
comfortable and convenient, and to give our customers what they value
and appreciate, said Lauri Curtis, Americans Vice President-Onboard
Service. The 777 installation of the next-generation Business
Class and Flagship Suite seats is the latest in our series of product
and service enhancements to meet customer needs. Each of these
products has extensive amenities that enhance the overall travel experience
for our premium customers, and each has been very well received by passengers.
American introduced its
next-generation Business Class product in Summer 2006 on its fleet of
Boeing 767-300 aircraft, and passenger surveys show higher ratings from
customers traveling on aircraft equipped with next generation features.
Delivering on its promise and mission to provide premium customers greater
comfort, flexibility, convenience and privacy, American has now launched
the next generation Business Class product on the 777 aircraft.
The first Boeing 777
to receive the new Business Class cabin enhancements began flying in
Americans network earlier this month. The remainder of the
fleet installation is scheduled to begin this fall. Flagship Suites
are scheduled to be in all 777 First Class cabins the by end of 2007.
NEXT GENERATION BUSINESS CLASS
Next-generation Business
Class customers traveling on Americans 777 aircraft can look forward
to experiencing innovative enhancements in seating, a broad selection
of entertainment options, and an improved cabin design on their flights,
including:
Innovative Seat
Features
Ergonomically-Advanced
Seating. A new highly-adjustable seat with five independent
motors allows customers to customize the setting to their personal preference.
Passengers can individually adjust any component of the seat, including
the seat bottom, seat back and leg-rest extension.
Lie-Flat Comfort.
The next generation Business Class seat lies flat to extend to a length
of 76 inches, creating a comfortable and spacious sleeping area.
The seat also features a fixed privacy divider, providing another level
of personal space for each traveler.
Unique Move Forward Seats.
Unmatched in the airline industry, Americans next generation Business
Class seat has the ability to move forward 10 inches while in the upright
position, allowing passengers to offset their seat from fellow passengers
for added privacy and comfort.
Interlocking Tray
Tables. An innovative tray table design offers two
separate tables one drops down from the seat back and a second lifts
from the center console. The tables can be used separately or
locked together to create one large work or dining surface.
More Entertainment
Options
Entertainment on Demand.
Americans next generation Business Class features in-seat personal
entertainment with a 10.6-inch, touch-screen tilting monitor.
Customers also receive Bose® QuietComfort® 3
Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones to enhance their entertainment
experience. Business Class customers have a choice of up to 35
feature movies, 18 hours of pre-loaded television, 50 music CDs, 15
games and 14 American branded audio channels. The on-demand feature
allows passengers using the in-seat entertainment system to select the
program they want to view or hear and then pause, fast-forward and rewind
at their convenience. In-flight entertainment language options
vary by market and include English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese,
Japanese, Chinese and Hindi.
Improved Cabin
Design
Convenient Power Ports.
Power ports are located in the center console between passengers for
easy accessibility an advantage over some other airlines that put
power ports on the floor or under the seat.
Abundant Lighting. A light mounted in the seat-back illuminates
the work table, providing a well-lit space for reading or working, while
an overhead light gives more generalized illumination.
Americans next-generation
Business Class cabin on the Boeing 777 features 37 seats in a 2-3-2
seating configuration an increase of two seats from the previous
Business Class cabin configuration. The additional seats will
help meet strong customer demand for Americans Business Class product,
as well as help preserve AAdvantage® members ability
to upgrade into the Business Class cabin.
FLAGSHIP SUITE
INSTALLATION
While adding the next-generation
Business Class to its fleet of 777s, American also is installing Flagship
Suite seats in the First Class cabins of 20 aircraft that do not currently
offer them. When complete at the end of this year, all of Americans
777s will have the Flagship Suite, considered one of the most comfortable
First Class seats in the industry.
Each Flagship Suite transforms
into a fully flat six-foot, six-inch bed with two drop-down armrests
that allow for easier access and more sleeping space. Each suite
also features privacy dividers, power ports, leather headrests, two
large tray tables, individual satellite phones, audio and video entertainment
on demand, and swivel seats an industry first that allows for face-to-face
meetings or dining.
American will offer 16
Flagship Suite seats in First Class on its Boeing 777s, arranged in
a 1-2-1 configuration.
American uses the Boeing
777 aircraft to operate most of its trans-Atlantic flights between London
and the United States. The 777 aircraft are also flown on services
between Germany, Latin America, Japan, China and India and the United
States, and on select routes within the United States. Currently,
777s are flown on approximately 20 routes.
Installation of the next
generation Business Class and First Class Flagship Suites is being performed
by employees of Americans Maintenance and Engineering Department
at the airlines Alliance maintenance base in Fort Worth.
