European Aircraft Industry: First look at: American's new Airbus A321 Transcontinental - by Ben Mutzabaugh

AA Airbus 321

In case you missed this, American Airlines' fleet renewal effort took its latest step last Tuesday. That's when the airline showed off its first Airbus A321 Transcontinental aircraft in New York.

"This airplane represents yet another chapter of the modernization of American Airlines and putting the customer at the center of everything we do," Jim Carter, VP – Eastern Sales Division at American.. "This airplane will be flying on one of the most important routes."..

American Airlines calls the arrival of the new A321s part of a "massive undertaking to rejuvenate (AA's) fleet," an effort that got rolling earlier this year with the arrival of American's new 777-300ER aircraft. "American has since taken delivery of the Embraer E175 and Airbus A319, both set to replace older aircraft,

The A321 is American's answer to that. It will feature three classes of service: First, business and coach, making it the only airline to fly three-cabin on the transcontinental routes. Both the first and business cabins will feature lie-flat seats.

AA will use its A321s to gradually replace the "ancient 767-200s" it currently uses for many of its trans-continental routes out of New York. Those jets, Airchive.com notes, "lack modern amenities like personal in-flight entertainment and lie-flat beds."


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