American Airlines is redesigning its 20 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to expand premium seating and eliminate the Flagship First cabin. The first retrofit entered commercial service Sept. 2 on the New York-Buenos Aires route, with the fleet expected to be upgraded during 2027. The new configuration raises premium seats from 116 to 144 and includes 70 Flagship Suite business-class seats, 44 Premium Economy seats and 30 Main Cabin Extra seats, while increasing total capacity to 330 passengers. Flagship Suites have privacy doors, additional storage and a chaise-lounge position. American says the aircraft now has more premium seats than any aircraft operated by a U.S. carrier. The strategy reflects premium travelers’ financial importance: they represented about 30% of seats in the second quarter but generated nearly half of ticketed revenue. Managed corporate revenue rose 26% year over year, marking a fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. American plans to expand lie-flat seats across its international fleet by more than 50% by the end of the decade and increase premium seating on narrowbody aircraft from about 25% to around 40%. Flagship First will stop being sold on 777-300ER flights for travel from Nov. 19 and on transcontinental routes from March 28, 2027, as more Airbus A321XLR aircraft enter service. The move brings American closer to Delta and United and shifts its focus from top-end international first class toward a larger, more private business-class cabin.