FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after
closing its merger, American Airlines is looking ahead to 2015 and
beyond with more than $2 billion in
investments to give its customers a world-class travel
experience.
"Now that we have the network to compete globally, we're
going to deliver a product that's better than our
competitors," said Doug Parker,
American Airlines chairman and CEO. "Refreshed cabins and
clubs, modernized ticket counters, improved technology
and new aircraft are further examples of
how American is 'going for great' - providing our outstanding
team members the tools they need to deliver a great
experience for our customers."
These capital investments include fully lie-flat seats;
international Wi-Fi; more in-flight entertainment options; a new,
modern design for Admirals Club lounges worldwide; and an upgraded
assortment of complimentary healthy food, cocktails and more.
American closed the merger with US Airways on Dec. 9, 2013, and has made significant
progress in combining the two airlines. Customers now have full
access to the combined network thanks to the world's largest
codeshare. They can also earn and redeem miles on flights operated
by American and US Airways and receive reciprocal access to clubs
and upgrades. American's cargo operation now functions as a single
airline and planning is well underway for the major projects that
will make American one airline during 2015. Meanwhile, American has
posted consistent profits and has begun returning cash to
shareholders through a stock buyback and dividend program
implemented earlier this year.
Fleet
American Airlines is taking delivery of nearly
100 aircraft in 2014, giving it the youngest fleet of any
U.S.-based network carrier, with an average aircraft age of 12.3
years. In addition, American will take delivery of 112 aircraft
next year and 84 in 2016. Orders include the Airbus A320 family,
A350-900s, Boeing 737 MAX, 777-300ERs and 787s, which will make
American's fleet even younger, more modern and fuel efficient. The
airline continues to see success with its unmatched
transcontinental service on the award-winning A321T, which has the
only true First Class service between the West Coast and
New York.
Seats
American is upgrading the customer experience
on several aircraft types that customers already fly today. Whether
flying domestic or international, customers want recharging
capabilities, comfort, and more modern features. American is
delivering this to them with a new cabin environment onboard
certain 757s and 767-300s, and a complete nose-to-tail overhaul on
more than 90 A319s and all 777-200s. The investments mean that
every First Class and Business Class seat on nearly every American
Airlines widebody jet will feature fully lie-flat and direct aisle
access seats.
- 777-200 – The first refurbished 777-200 is already in
service, featuring a Business Class seat designed especially for
American Airlines customers, with direct aisle access and a private
flying experience. The plane will have a modern interior –
including a walk-up bar – with unique lighting, a dramatic archway
and a spacious look. Main Cabin Extra will be added and all Main
Cabin seats will have in-seat entertainment systems. All 47
aircraft are scheduled to be retrofitted by the end of 2016.
- 757 – Aircraft used on trans-Atlantic and Latin America flights will get fully lie-flat
seats in Business Class. Customers flying in the Main Cabin will
also benefit from a refreshed cabin, power ports and in-flight
connectivity.
- A319 – One of the workhorses of the legacy US Airways
fleet is scheduled for all new seats. Planned improvements include
new seats throughout First Class and Main Cabin, and adding 24 Main
Cabin Extra seats and power outlets throughout the cabin to charge
personal electronic devices. All 93 A319s will be retrofitted and
in service by the end of 2016.
- 767-300 – Eleven refurbished aircraft are already
in service and 14 more will be complete in 2015. The cabin will
feature fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in Business
Class and a refreshed Main Cabin. In addition, these aircraft will
receive satellite in-flight connectivity.
Entertainment, W-Fi and Power
These investments also
will include expanding in-flight entertainment and
connectivity.
New 737s, nearly all new A321s, as well as retrofitted A319s
will have power ports in every row. All new widebody deliveries,
including 777-300ERs and 787s, come with power at every seat,
allowing customers to charge their laptops and their personal
electronic devices from gate to gate.
In premium cabins, American is upgrading to the latest
Bose® headset, the QC®25, on all flights to
South America, Europe and Asia, as well as transcontinental flights.
Customers' access to the Internet will soon extend around the
globe. American is adding satellite-based Internet access on all
777s and A330s, as well as all of the retrofitted 767-300s and
757s, and all 787s, providing connectivity for international
flights.
Admirals Club lounges
This year American Airlines
celebrated the 75th anniversary of the industry's first
VIP lounge, the Admirals Club lounge in New York, which forever changed the air travel
experience. In 2015, American will begin rolling out a modern
design across its global network of lounges.
Admirals Club customers will see new and expanded complimentary
food options, refurbished restroom and shower facilities, toiletry
amenities, and improved technology for customers to use before
flights. Additional healthy food items include Greek yogurt and
oatmeal for breakfast, hearty soup offerings in every club,
crudites and desserts. Additional improvements will continue to
roll out in the coming months.
"We invented the airport lounge and in 2015 customers can expect
us to reinvent the lounge experience," said Fernand Fernandez, vice president of Global
Marketing. "The same way we transformed transcontinental travel
with the award-winning A321T, we will transform every aspect of our
clubs with a remodeled design and furnishings, new food choices,
and a first class assortment of wines and cocktails."
Airport experience
American is also improving the
customer's passage through the airport by removing barriers between
customers and agents, reducing queues and congestion, and keeping
tech-savvy customers connected with charging stations for their
devices. With the help of updated lobby designs, newer, faster and
more reliable kiosks at check-in counters, and 400 additional
kiosks in gate areas, customers will enjoy a faster, more
streamlined experience.
Customers will also see 500 worktables with 12 power outlets
each and seating for eight people near gates at all hub and gateway
airports so they can charge their devices before their flight.
Premium services
American's partnership with Cadillac
improves the travel experience for the most loyal customers with
tight transfer times as they are escorted to their next gate in
luxury vehicles. The exclusive service is available now at
Los Angeles International Airport,
Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport and New York's LaGuardia
and Kennedy airports.
For customers who desire a private check-in experience, American
will continue to offer exclusive service with Flagship Check-In at
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los
Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, and New York
Kennedy.
For more information on these investments, please visit
aa.com/goingforgreat.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group
(NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US
Airways. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional
carriers operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the
airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339
destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines
AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to
earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays
and everyday purchases. Members of both programs can redeem miles
for tickets as well as upgrades to First Class and Business Class.
In addition, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for vacation
packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products. American is
a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members
and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily
flights to 150 countries. Connect with American on Twitter
@AmericanAir and Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US
Airways on Twitter @USAirways.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141208/162785
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141208/162786
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130208/DA56847LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-airlines-going-for-great-with-more-than-2-billion-in-planned-customer-improvements-300006000.html
SOURCE American Airlines