American Airlines (AAL, Financials) is phasing out long-haul first class in favor of a new generation of business-class suites featuring sliding privacy doors. The move signals the carrier's push to win over high-paying international travelers, starting with the launch of its “Flagship Suites” on Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning June 5.

The rollout begins with a Chicago–London route, followed by Philadelphia–London on August 6 and Philadelphia–Zurich on September 3. Each retrofitted 787-9 will house 51 of these upgraded business-class seats, a significant jump from the current 30. A roundtrip between Philadelphia and London in the new suite is currently listed at $5,342 on the airline's website.

The seat redesign was first unveiled in September 2022 but was delayed due to supply chain issues affecting the entire industry. American is also preparing to retrofit its older 777-300ER aircraft and will adopt a smaller version of the suite for upcoming Airbus A321XLRs.

The pivot reflects a broader industry trend as major U.S. carriers abandon traditional first class to cater to business travelers seeking privacy and comfort. Delta Air Lines (DAL, Financials), United Airlines (UAL, Financials), and JetBlue Airways (JBLU, Financials) have all introduced or announced similar high-end cabin experiences featuring sliding doors. Latam Airlines, based in Chile, recently launched its own business-class refresh as part of a $360 million investment.

In addition to the new seating, American is expanding perks like free Wi-Fi for loyalty program members, aligning with similar offerings from Delta and United. With seat delivery timelines stretched by complex cabin upgrades, the competition for international premium passengers is intensifying.