American Airlines to offer fully-flat business class seat

No sooner has American Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection than it unveils plans for a fully flat business class seat on its forthcoming B777-300ER aircraft, to be launched on the airline’s London route. The US carrier says it will take delivery of ten B777-300ER aircraft in 2012 and 2013, featuring a brand new fully flat business class seat featuring a 15.4-inch TV screen, a touchscreen remote control, and “a large tray table in addition to a work surface”. AA says that all passengers in business class will have aisle access, although it is not yet clear how the seats will be configured – Business Traveller has requested more information on this, along with images of the new product, and will post both here when available. In first class there will be an “updated and enhanced” version of the current Flagship Suite, with a fully flat six-foot, eight-inch bed with drop down armrests, a privacy divider, two universal AC power outlets, one USB outlet, two large tray tables and a 17-inch touchscreen TV. Economy will also be revamped, with the seat featuring a “higher recline pivot, providing increased knee room”, and an articulated seat bottom “producing an innovative cradling motion to better distribute weight while increasing the recline angle of the seatback”. Every seat will also feature individual 110 volt AC power outlets and USB jacks for charging personal electronic devices. The aircraft will also offer an economy “premium seat product”, with extra legroom and positioned in the forward portion of the cabin. Other features include wifi capability throughout, a walk-up bar in the premium cabin, and an IFE system offering up to 120 films and more than 150 TV programmes. AA currently offers an angled lie-flat business class product on its long-haul transatlantic services, while rivals Delta, United and Continental have all launched fully flat products in recent years. For more information visit aa.com. Report by Mark Caswell