American Airlines has expanded its plan to swap first-class seats on foreign flights with extra business class seats.
Some of the new seats on long-distance international flights will be named “Flagship Suites,” and will have seats that transform into beds as well as doors for privacy.
The shift was initially announced last month and was confirmed Thursday in a conference call with investors by Vasu Raja, the company’s chief commercial officer, who stated that the adjustment is due to client demand.
“The first class will not exist … at American Airlines for the simple reason that our customers aren’t buying it,” he said in response to a question.
Later, American Airlines clarified that Raja was only talking about overseas flights.
“The quality of the business class seat has improved so much. And frankly, by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for,” Raja said.
The typical first class seats at the front of most domestic flights, including practically all single-aisle jets, will remain in place. They also offer greater leg room and may recline further than economy seats, but they do not lie flat.
“This is mostly a name change. Business class at most carriers is what we would have called first class 20 years ago,” said airline consultant Mike Boyd.
Many of the planes operated by American on foreign flights have already deleted the “first class” seats, instead offering business class, premium economy seats that are somewhat wider than conventional economy seats, and economy seats that fill the majority of the cabin.
Rivals United and Delta airlines discontinued first class service on foreign flights years ago in favor of more expensive business class options. Delta made the switch in 1998, while United did it in 2016.