American Airlines will add eight seats to each of its Boeing 787-8s as it reconfigures the aircraft with its new premium economy cabin.
The Fort Worth-based carrier will reconfigure its 787-8s with 234 seats, up from 226 seats, with the first aircraft scheduled to enter service around September, American says. The aircraft will have 20 business class seats – down from 28 – as well as 28 premium economy seats, 42 extra-legroom economy seats and 144 economy seats.
"Adding [premium economy] to the 787-8 will give our customers more premium choices while travelling," the airline says when asked about the reconfiguration.
American's reconfigured 787-8s remain in the middle of seating density for the aircraft. British Airways has 214 seats on its aircraft and United Airlines 219 seats, while LATAM Airlines Group offers 247 seats.
The US carrier plans to complete premium economy installations on its 787-8s in early 2019, it says.
Premium economy is part of a larger segmentation programme at American to generate roughly $1 billion in incremental revenue by 2020. The airline introduced the cabin, which is priced between economy and business class, on the 787-9 in late 2016.
American operates 20 787-8s and has orders for 22 more, which will replace its 209-seat Boeing 767-300ERs from 2020-2022.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
