American Airlines chief commercial officer Vasu Raja said that the airline will do away with first class seating on long-haul flights.
According to Raja, the interest in first class seats is not sufficient, and the carrier will replace them with business class seating.
"First class will not exist on the 777, or for that matter at American Airlines, for the simple reason that our customers aren't buying it," Raja said in an investors call, according to Business Insider.
"The quality of the business-class seat has improved so much, and frankly by removing it, we could provide more business-class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for," Raja added.
First class seats will remain on domestic flights, conducted on the airline’s Airbus A320-family aircraft.
The statement concerns only long-haul aircraft, such as various models of Boeing 777, 787 and yet-to-be-delivered Airbus A321XLR.
This means that the premium Flagship Suite – a luxurious first class seating announced by American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) in September 2022 – is going to be canceled.
The carrier planned to install the suites on Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with first deliveries starting in 2024.