American Plans Rollout of Boeing 787-9 on Dallas to Madrid and Sao Paulo

American Airlines says it will operate its first Boeing 787-9 on Dallas-Madrid and Dallas-Sao Paulo routes.
By Ted Reed ,

American Airlines (AAL) - Get Report  said flights in November between Dallas and Madrid and Dallas to Sao Paulo, Brazil, will mark the first uses of the Boeing (BA) - Get Report 787-9 as well as the first international flights with premium economy seating.

Starting Nov. 4, American will operate the 787-9 on DFW-Madrid as well as DFW-Sao Paulo.

"The 787-9 is going to be a fantastic addition to our widebody fleet," said Andrew Nocella, American's chief marketing officer, in a prepared statement. "As the first U.S. airline to introduce premium economy seating on international flights, we continue to innovate new ways to meet our customers' expectations with the products and service they value."

Nocella said the carrier will retrofit existing widebodies as part of a $3 billion effort to upgrade aircraft and airport facilities.

The new 787-9s will have 285 seats, compared with 226 seats in American's Boeing 787-8s. Of those added seats, 27 will be in main cabin extra, which will have 38 inches of pitch. That will likely be attractive to many passengers because American offers just 31 inches of pitch in its 787 coach seats, a tight squeeze on long flights.

In the 8 series, American seats 28 in business with lie-flat seating. It puts 57 in the main cabin extra section with 36-inch pitch. It has 141 seats in coach or "main cabin."

In the 9 series, American seats 30 in business with lie-flat seating. It has 27 seats in main cabin extra, 21 seats in premium economy and 207 seats in the main cabin.

American has orders for 42 Dreamliners. In February, it took possession of the 100th Dreamliner assembled in Charleston. Its first 787-9 is expected to be delivered in September, with a total of four 787-9 deliveries this year.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.

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