American Airlines recently took delivery of its first two Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with its new Flagship Suite experience. Now, the carrier has officially unveiled the new seat as well as the initial routes that the carrier will deploy the aircraft on.
American Airlines Flagship Suite
American has 30 Boeing 787-9s in this premium configuration on order or delivered, branded as the 787-9P. These aircraft are expected to be delivered between now and 2029. Each new aircraft will be primarily utilized for long-haul flights and are equipped with 51 Flagship Suite Business Class seats and 32 Premium Economy seats. This will help American meet its goal of growing lie-flat and Premium Economy seating by 50% by the end of the decade.
The new Flagship Suite features privacy doors, more personal storage space with a wireless charging pad and a one-of-a-kind chaise lounge seating option with an adjustable headrest pillow.
Strangely, one item that is usually promoted in these types of press releases, information around the in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience is missing. This may be due to the fact that the carrier doesn’t seem to have been able to install its planned IFE screens in the cabins. Aviation insider xJonNYC posted pictured of the new cabins prior to the unveiling and the screens look smaller and older than one would expect for a brand new international Business Class product.
These screens appear to be temporary, hopefully, until the original ones can be delivered and installed. If not, this is a major miss for an airline that is looking to become more premium after years of cuts. Considering none of the official press release photos showcase the IFE, I’m betting these are not going to be installed long term.
American notes, as part of the Flagship Suite experience, guests receive priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling, as well as access to American’s Flagship Lounge which offers complimentary, regionally inspired, dishes and signature cocktails.
Inflight, passengers will experience a multicourse meal, award-winning wines, premium amenity kits and a comfy duvet blanket accompanied with a dual-sided pillow with cool touch fabric on one side and traditional fabric on the other.
Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer, had this to say about the new cabins:
“Every aspect of our new 787-9 is designed to feel premium in nature. Whether flying for business or pleasure, having the opportunity to explore other parts of the world should be an exciting and memorable experience that begins the moment you book your flight, long before you reach your final destination.”
In addition to the new Flagship Suite, each new Premium Economy seat will feature headrest wings to increase privacy among passengers.
Initial Flagship Suite Routes
Beginning Monday, May 5, 2025, customers can purchase tickets for the inaugural flight of the new aircraft via AA.com. The carrier’s first flight will be on June 5, 2025 from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) as Flight 2012. Once the aircraft operates the return service from Los Angeles, it will begin its inaugural Flagship service as Flight 98 to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Later this summer, American will operate the Boeing 787-9P from Philadelphia (PHL) to London (LHR) and Zurich (ZRH). Finally, in the fall, American will deploy the aircraft on the Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) to Brisbane (BNE) route.
| Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | London (LHR) | June 5, 2025 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | London (LHR) | August 6, 2025 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Zurich (ZRH) | September 3, 2025 |
| Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) | Brisbane (BNE) | October 26, 2025 |
As the carrier continues to take delivery of new aircraft, expect the list of routes to expand. American also plans to add its Flagship Suite to its yet to be delivered Airbus A321XLR aircraft and its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Summary
American Airlines has officially unveiled its new Flagship Suite as well as the initial routes for the new premium-heavy aircraft. The cabins look like a great upgrade from what you’ll find on existing aircraft however, the part that wasn’t called out is one of the most important. In the official press release, American neglected to mention the seatback IFE and it appears that these planes were delivered with older equipment and will hopefully be upgraded in the future.
