- American Airlines has announced new and restored routes that will fly on its network this year.
- This includes the first-ever route to Brisbane, Australia, making it the new longest route.
- The city will be one of the first cities where customers can fly American Airlines' new Boeing 787-9 Business Class.
American Airlines has announced new details about its international expansion and where its redesigned business and premium economy seats will fit.
On Thursday, the Texas-based airline announced its first route to Australia's Brisbane Airport with daily service from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) starting October 27, 2024.
The new seasonal flight will run until March 29, 2025, and will be the first direct flight between the two cities in about a decade, a U.S. spokesperson told Business Insider.
But, notably, American Airlines said the flight would be operated by an upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft equipped with the airline's newest flagship suite seats. The airline plans to deliver seven 787-9s in 2024.
So far, Brisbane is the only destination American Airlines has confirmed to BI that it is using the new seats.
The flagship suite product, first announced in September 2022, is a redesigned version of the U.S. “standard” business class and premium economy seats. In addition to the new 787-9, the seats will also be installed on future Airbus A321XLR aircraft and retrofitted to the airline's current Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
This product does not include first class, as American Airlines has completely eliminated cabins from its long-haul aircraft.
Still, business class has some important upgrades, including sliding doors and the option to meet and dine with other passengers in your suite. Premium Economy enhancements include more space and privacy.
Improving the comfort of the flagship suite will be particularly important on ultra-long-haul routes to Brisbane. That's because, at about 8,300 miles, the route would become American's new longest route, surpassing its current 7,500-mile route between Los Angeles and Sydney.
Flight times for the latter are typically 14 to 15 hours, according to FlightAware data, so the new service will likely be even longer.
American Airlines did not confirm to BI whether Brisbane would be the first route for the new flagship suite seats.
“While we continue to work with Boeing to deliver these new aircraft with Flagship Suite seats, we have nothing further to share regarding the Flagship Suite deployment at this time,” the spokesperson said. told BI on Thursday.
American Airlines' international expansion extends beyond Brisbane
In addition to announcing the Brisbane route, American is adding new routes between its DFW hub and Galeão International Airport (airport code GIG) in Veracruz, Mexico, and Rio de Janeiro.
This year, American Airlines will increase flights between DFW and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman and Maui, Hawaii, and reinstate daily service from the Texas airport to Kona, Hawaii. Ta.
Meanwhile, seasonal flights between Los Angeles and Oakland began earlier this year and are scheduled to resume on December 5th. A spokesperson confirmed to BI that the aircraft used on the New Zealand route will be a 787-9, but will be equipped with standard business class equipment. New flagship suite seat.
American's network adjustments in Australia and New Zealand will strengthen its partnership with fellow Oneworld Alliance member and Australia's flag carrier, Qantas. Together, the two companies serve about 270 cities in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, according to American.
“American Airlines is excited to expand our international network to give our customers more ways to escape next winter's cold,” Brian Znotins, American's senior vice president of network and schedule planning, said in a press release. I'm excited.'' “Working with Qantas, our customers will now be able to enjoy multiple ways to explore new destinations across one of the most comprehensive networks connecting the US and the South Pacific.”
