American announced one of the first routes for its new Flagship business seats deploying on Boeing 787-9s this year. It will also be its new longest flight.
- American Airlines announced new and restored routes coming to its network this year.
- Among them is its first-ever route to Brisbane, Australia — which will also be its new longest.
American Airlines has released new details about its international expansion and where its redesigned business and premium economy seats will fit in.
On Thursday, the Texas-based carrier announced its first-ever route to Brisbane Airport in Australia, scheduled to trek daily from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, or DFW, starting on October 27, 2024.
The new seasonal service will run through March 29, 2025, and is the first nonstop route between the two cities in nearly 10 years, an American spokesperson told Business Insider.
Notably, however, American said the flight will be operated by its upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft equipped with the carrier's brand new Flagship Suite seats. The company has seven 787-9s scheduled for delivery in 2024.
Brisbane is so far the only route revealed to be using the new seats, American confirmed to BI.
The Flagship Suite product, which was first announced in September 2022, is a redesigned version of America's "standard" business class and premium economy seats. Alongside the new 787-9s, the seats will also deploy on future Airbus A321XLRs, as well as be retrofitted onto the airline's current Boeing 777-300ERs.
The product will not include first class as American completely wipes the cabin from its long-haul fleet.
Still, business class is getting key upgrades, like sliding doors and the option to meet or dine with another passenger inside the suite. Premium economy enhancements include more space and privacy.
The Flagship Suite's added comforts will be particularly important on the ultra-long-haul service to Brisbane, given it will become American's new longest route at about 8,300 miles — beating out its current 7,500-mile trek between Los Angeles and Sydney.
The latter's flight time typically sits between 14 and 15 hours, according to FlightAware data, so the new service will be even longer.
American did not specify to BI if Brisbane will be the inaugural route for the new Flagship Suite seats.
"We continue to work with Boeing on taking deliveries of these new aircraft featuring the Flagship Suite seats, but we have nothing additional to share at this time on the deployment of the Flagship Suites," a spokesperson told BI on Thursday.
American's international expansion goes beyond Brisbane
In addition to its Brisbane route announcement, American is adding new routes between its DFW base and Veracruz in Mexico, and Galeão International Airport, airport code GIG, in Rio de Janeiro.
American also scheduled more frequencies this year between DFW and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, and Maui, Hawaii, as well as restored the Texas airport's daily service to Kona, Hawaii.
Meanwhile, seasonal flights between Los Angeles and Auckland will begin earlier this year, restarting on December 5. A spokesperson confirmed to BI that the aircraft used for the New Zealand route will be a 787-9, but equipped with the standard business class — not the new Flagship Suite seats.
American's network adjustments in Australia and New Zealand will strengthen its partnership with fellow Oneworld alliance member and Australian flag carrier Qantas. The duo collectively serves some 270 cities across the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, according to American.
"American is thrilled to grow our international network to give customers more ways to escape the cold next winter," American's SVP of network and schedule planning, Brian Znotins, said in a press release. "Together with Qantas, customers can enjoy more ways to explore new destinations across one of the most comprehensive networks connecting the United States and the South Pacific."