Boeing 767-200 Upgrade Includes Updated Seats, Interior, and Inflight Entertainment

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines today announced plans to invest $20 million in upgrades on its entire fleet of Boeing 767-200 aircraft. The upgrade includes updated First and Business Class seats, a lighter and brighter cabin interior, and new audio and video on-demand personal entertainment devices in First and Business Class. The upgrade also includes an additional First Class seat, increasing the number of First Class Seats from 9 to 10 on each aircraft.

In addition, American will enhance its lounge admittance policy in conjunction with the opening of the new Flagship Lounge® and second Admirals Club® lounge at the new JFK terminal by summer 2007. First Class passengers flying on transcontinental routes on three-class aircraft will have access to American’s Flagship Lounges, usually reserved for international premium class customers. In addition, Business Class passengers traveling on transcontinental routes on three-class aircraft will have access to American’s Admirals Club lounges. American has a Flagship Lounge facility and Admirals Club lounge at Los Angeles International Airport and opened a new Admirals Club in Concourse C in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2005.

The $20 million investment represents another step in a series of investments American, a founding member of the global oneworld® Alliance, is making to its core products to enhance the overall customer experience. The Boeing 767-200 aircraft is primarily flown from New York to Los Angeles and New York to San Francisco, which are key markets in American’s extensive domestic network. The transcontinental flights often connect passengers to American’s extensive international network. American is the only airline to primarily fly widebody aircraft, which are preferred by customers to narrowbody aircraft, on these transcontinental routes. This investment enables the company to further its leadership position in the highly competitive transcontinental market.

Customers will begin seeing the enhancements as early as summer 2007. The upgrade will be implemented in a phased approach, beginning with new inflight entertainment and updated interiors and will be followed by:

• Upgraded, fully motorized seats in the First Class cabin – offering customers greater seat flexibility to assure comfort.
• The addition of one First Class seat per aircraft, made possible by utilizing currently unused space and additional space made available by the installation of the new and smaller digital inflight entertainment system. American will gain almost 11,000 additional First Class seats annually in the New York to Los Angeles and New York to San Francisco transcontinental markets.
• Updated interior throughout the aircraft for a lighter and brighter look including new upholstery, carpeting and lighter “basket-weave” sidewalls.

“We are focused on investing in our transcontinental product – on some of our most important routes – to enhance the overall customer experience for our valued premium travelers ,” said David Cush, American’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales. “The aircraft upgrades, combined with the new transcontinental premium class menus and the new amenities we recently announced, all work together to enhance the total travel experience onboard the aircraft.”

Cush, noting that American understands the travel experience begins before boarding the aircraft, added that the enhanced lounge admission policy for transcontinental First and Business Class passengers would be well-received by customers flying between New York and Los Angeles and between New York and San Francisco.

This announcement follows other improvements American has announced to make the airline even more attractive to premium customers, a key part of its overall strategy. Earlier this year, American introduced new premium class menus on all transcontinental flights. Developed by Conclave Chef Nancy Brussat-Barocci of Convito Italiano & Betise in Wilmette, Ill., the new transcontinental menu options will be offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as the midnight snack service on overnight flights.

Recently, American also announced an expansion of culinary options and overall service in First and Business class cabins – including on transcontinental flights a marinated cheese antipasto snack as an alternative to warm mixed nuts in First Class. In addition to silverware, warm cloth towels and individual salt and pepper shakers, First and Business cabins now feature a baked-on-board cookie service, artisan breads, after-dinner gourmet chocolates and pre-landing sparkling water service. Customers in First and Business Class cabins can also enjoy the airline’s famous ice cream sundaes.

Earlier this month, American Airlines unveiled a new level of comfort in the form of a cotton duvet. Designed for warmth and comfort, the soft cotton duvet will be paired with an oversized premium pillow in First and Business Class on all 767 and 777 aircraft.

In another move this year, American joined with US Helicopter to provide customers with the first regularly scheduled helicopter airport shuttle service in New York in 12 years. The alliance gives customers the timesaving opportunity to travel between New York’s JFK International Airport and Manhattan in eight minutes, as well as the ability to check in and clear security at the heliport.

American’s transcontinental flights serve major national airports, including Los Angeles International Airport, New York’s JFK International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. American’s 15 Boeing 767-200s are widebody aircraft, which customers prefer to the narrowbody aircraft flown by other airlines since the 767-200s offer more room for passengers to move about the cabin. American’s 767-200 aircraft have power ports in every First and Business Class seat, as well as more power ports in the coach cabin than any other airline, giving transcontinental travelers the ability to remain productive on these long-haul flights.

“American is clearly investing in the products and services its customers value, and we are firmly committed to continuing to enhance the customer experience,” Cush said. “Our ongoing commitment provides significant benefits to our customers, our employees and the communities we serve, and we will continue our relentless focus on maintaining our leadership in the marketplace.”

About American Airlines
American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve more than 600 destinations in over 135 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly, Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR)