AA unveils new business class

American Airlines is officially unveiling their Next
Generation Business Class at the NBTA International Convention & Exposition in Chicago.The new
767-300 Business Class is designed to give passengers more comfort,
flexibility and privacy. It features new, innovative, lie-flat seats, a
personal in-flight entertainment system with audio and video on demand,
state-of-the-art lighting and ergonomically-designed overhead bins.
  In addition, as part of American’s ongoing strategy to focus on key
products and services for its premium class passengers, American will
install its new Next Generation Business Class on its Boeing 777 fleet
beginning in 2007. Also in 2007, based on rave reviews from First Class
customers on the 777 Flagship Suite, American will also install the
Flagship Suites on the remaining 777s that do not currently feature the
product to ensure customers will have this popular product every time they
fly on an American Airlines 777 flight. American’s 777s are flown to
London, Japan, China, India and to select cities in Latin America as well
as other destinations.
  American’s product specialists, employees and its key supplier, Recaro,
a leading expert in aviation seating, used their combined expertise to
develop the new seats and other cabin enhancements. In addition, some of
the airline’s most-frequent business travelers and flight attendants
participated in the research and development of the new seats and other
amenities. The result is the Next Generation Business Class, designed to
make the Business Class travel experience more comfortable, productive and
customized for each passenger’s needs.
  “American Airlines continues its emphasis on serving Business Class
customers in international travel by unveiling our Next Generation Business
Class, which features a new lie-flat seat that provides more comfort and
adjustability,” said David Cush, American’s Senior Vice President - Global
Sales. “Travelers will now have the capability of making this innovative
Business Class seat adjust to their personal preferences, as opposed to
having to adjust to seats that have only a few positions, which are in use
by a number of competing airlines. Our Business Class passengers can now
fly more comfortably, work more productively and enjoy the flight with
expanded entertainment features and dining options.”
  Cush added that, compared to some other major airlines, the new Next
Generation Business Class gives customers in Chicago and throughout the
Midwest a superior Business Class product.
  “Chicago is home to our international gateway, where American and its
regional partner, American Eagle, offer nonstop service to 22 international
destinations including Shanghai, Delhi, Tokyo, London, Paris and Mexico,”
Cush said.
  The new product reflects American’s ongoing strategy of competing for
leisure travelers while investing in and maintaining a strong focus on
enhancing products and services for premium class customers. Enhancements
to American’s Boeing 767-300 Business Class are underway at American’s
Alliance maintenance base in Fort Worth, Texas, with completion scheduled
for early 2007, making it one of the fastest installations in the industry.
The Boeing 767-300s are operated on most of the airline’s transatlantic
services, as well as on select routes within the United States and to Latin
America. American’s 58 767-300s serve more than 50 routes to more than 20
cities.
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