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."


Read more: First look: American's new Airbus A321 Transcontinental

"Lie-flat seats" coming to domestic cross-country routes on new A321 American Airlines flights

American airlines new Airbus A321

American Airlines will add lie-flat seats to its new Airbus A321 jets that will fly transcontinental routes between New York and California.

"We intend to be the only airline to offer a three-class service and the first to offer fully lie-flat First and Business Class seats on transcontinental flights with our Airbus A321 transcontinental aircraft," Virsab Vahidi, AA's Chief Commercial Officer, says in a release.

The Airbus A321s will join American's fleet as part of previously announced orders for 460 jets. As part of those orders, which included deals with both Boeing and Airbus.

AA plans to take delivery of 130 current generation Airbus aircraft from the A321 and A319 variants and up to 100 Boeing 737-800s through 2017.

Read more: AA: Lie-flat seats coming to domestic cross-country routes - USATODAY.com