American reveals first Dreamliner routes, seat layout
American Airlines has revealed the first routes and seat layout for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
American initially will fly its newest plane domestically starting May 7, when the carrier puts the 787 into service on flights between its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago O'Hare hubs.
AA's Dreamliner will make its international debut on June 2, taking over service on American's new DFW-Beijing route. That route is set to launch May 7, with American using Boeing 777-200s until switching to the Dreamliner. And on June 4, American will begin using 787s for its service between DFW and Buenos Aires, a route AA currently flies with Boeing 777-200 jets.
Customers eager to book a seat on AA's new Dreamliners will have to wait until Valentine's Day. American says the 787 flights will not show up for booking until Saturday (Feb. 14).
American says it will expand its Dreamliner service to additional markets later this year as the airline takes delivery of new aircraft.
American has placed firm orders for 42 Boeing 787s, with the right to acquire an additional 58. AA's first Dreamliners are the 787-8 variant, the first and smallest version of the jet. American also has ordered Boeing's larger 787-9 variant, dubbed by some as a "stretch" version of the aircraft.
Also revealed for the first time: American's seating plans for the Dreamliner. The carrier says its 787-8s will have 226 seats. The aircraft will not have a first-class cabin, but will have 28 full-flat business-class seats. In economy, American will offer 48 seats in its roomier "Main Cabin Extra" section and 150 in standard coach.
American says its business-class seats will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with "custom-designed forward-and rear-facing seats" that will give all business-class passengers direct access to the aisle. Biz-class fliers will have power outlets and USB jacks at each seat and will access in-flight entertainment via 15.4-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitors. They'll also be offered Bose noise-cancelling headphones and ear buds.
The economy cabin will be configured in a 3-3-3 layout, with a 9-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitor at every seat. All economy seats will have power outlets and USB jacks.
"We look forward to welcoming our international customers onboard the 787 with its modern amenities and comforts beginning this summer," Andrew Nocella, AA's chief marketing officer, says in a statement. "Adding the 787 Dreamliner to our network gives us the opportunity to increase our efficiency on long-haul flights across the globe and potentially open up new markets in our network. It's a big win for customers and just the latest example of how American is going for great."
American will become the second U.S. airline and the fourth in North America to put the Dreamliner into service. United was the first North American airline to begin flying the jet , putting it into service in 2012. Air Canada and Aeromexico also have Dreamliners in their fleets.
