First Pair of Boeing 787-9Ps for American Airlines
May 1, 2025
The two aircraft that arrived at Fort Worth on the evening came from Charleston, South Carolina (N845MD), and (N846AN) from Paine Field outside Seattle. Both had been delayed by about a year, also delaying the debut of the airline’s new premium concept.
These aircraft, with their new ‘premium-heavy’ Flagship Suite seating configuration, are known to the airline as the 787-9P.
The new Flagship Suite premium accommodation concept incorporates sliding privacy doors, more personal storage space, and a ‘chaise lounge’ (SiC) option. The new 787-9P has 51 business-class suites, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and with universal direct aisle access, as well as 32 all-new premium economy recliners. This compares with 30 business-class pods and 21 premium economy recliners on the standard 787-9s American is currently flying.
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) approved American Airlines’ new Flagship Suite business class seats in March 2025, after the Department judged them compliant with the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
The two new aircraft are widely expected to be used on routes between Philadelphia and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport.
The new Flagship Suite business class seats will be retrofitted to American Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ERs, and also its Airbus A321XLRs. American’s Vice President of Customer Experience, Julie Rat, commented that: “We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American. The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite® seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”
