"A monumental day for all at American"?

[KILOFINAL]

I'm scratching my head about this comment from the chief commercial officer at American. They launched service today with the 777-300 which has been in service for 15 years, yet they talk as if American was a launch customer on a completely new aircraft.

A monumental day at American would have been having a competent leadership team.

 

[dfw gen]

I'm scratching my head about this comment from the chief commercial officer at American. They launched service today with the 777-300 which has been in service for 15 years, yet they talk as if American was a launch customer on a completely new aircraft.

A monumental day at American would have been having a competent leadership team.

LOL!

 

[Tex-Mech]

A monumental day at American would have been having a competent leadership team.

+1 😀

 

[WorldTraveler]

The 777-300ER is a great plane, is economical, and is in high demand - Boeing can't build them fast enough. But that also means it is an expensive aircraft and Boeing probably didn't offer AA - or any other airline - much in the way of discounts.

Add in that AA has configured its 773s more like Asian carriers do - which have far lower seat densities than US airlines - and whatever advantage the 773 provides to AA in fuel economy will be offset by the lower seat configuration. BA and TAM - AA's primary competitors/partners have higher densities for their large aircraft as well and AA is likely to use its 773s predominantly to the UK and Brazil. For years we have known that AA's costs on the 777-200ER were high compared to other US airlines because of their premium-heavy configuration and the 773 appears headed in the very same direction. Having a low density configuration is fine if AA gets fares high enough to justify them - but AA's average fares in the markets where the 777s operate are not currently high enough to justify the low configurations. Add in that the 773ER is a heavy aircraft for routes that are less than 5000 miles, and the cost savings relative to other aircraft type might not be there at all.

 

[KILOFINAL]

Just for comparison Air China's 777-300 is configured at 8 in first, 41 in business and 259 in economy. American's 777-300 is configured as 8 in first, 52 business, 30 premium economy and 220 in economy. In economy the setup is 3-4-3 for 10 across and the seat pitch is a cozy 31 inches....yikes.

They're probably counting on more people "upgrading" to premium economy.

 

[700UW]

American ups 777-300ER backlog to 20, CEO says



By: Edward Russell São Paulo
11 hours ago
Source:





American Airlines has increased its order for Boeing 777-300ERs to 20, says chairman and chief executive Tom Horton.
The Fort Worth-based Oneworld alliance member previously disclosed an order for 15 of the type, split between 13 firm orders and two options.
"We had a little secret," Horton tells Flightglobal onboard American's inaugural 777-300ER flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Sao Paulo Guarulhos on 31 January.
It was not clear whether the additional five aircraft are options or firm orders. Boeing's online orders and deliveries page still lists firm orders by American Airlines for 13 777-300ERs. The database does not include a listing for options or commitments.
American is slated to receive eight 777-300ERs this year, which will bring the total number in its fleet to 10.
The airline plans to use the aircraft between Dallas-Fort Worth and both London Heathrow and Sao Paulo, Los Angeles and Heathrow, and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Heathrow this year.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Just for comparison Air China's 777-300 is configured at 8 in first, 41 in business and 259 in economy. American's 777-300 is configured as 8 in first, 52 business, 30 premium economy and 220 in economy. In economy the setup is 3-4-3 for 10 across and the seat pitch is a cozy 31 inches....yikes.

They're probably counting on more people "upgrading" to premium economy.

yes, AA's 773s will be the first 10 abreast on a 777 among US carriers. Air France, Air Canada, and TAM (Brazil) have 10 abreast (among others) but 32 inch pitch.


AA's coach configuration is comparable to what the Japanese carriers use on their high density intra-Japan aircraft.

I have flown NH's intra-Japan 773s and AC's 773ERs and AC's product in coach is not bad; NH's product is tight for Americans and Europeans.