American Airlines Chooses B/E Aerospace as Business-Class and Premium Economy Seat Supplier

American planes at the gate in Miami

American Airlines has selected B/E Aerospace as the supplier of its business-class, premium-economy, and coach seats for its new Airbus A350 aircraft as well as of the premium-economy seats in the airlines new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which will go into service in August. It will also supply other business-class seats for the Fort Worth-based carrier’s long-haul fleet.

The seats for the Dreamliner will be manufactured by B/E Aerospace in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland.

The news was first reported by the Belfast Telegraph.

The decision to find a new supplier came after American sued its now former supplier, Zodiac Aerospace, over delays in the shipment of seats, which in turn delayed the deployment of new aircraft.

David Thomas, the airline’s regional director, told the Telegraph it started working with B/E Aerospace after problems developed in its relationship with Zodiac Aerospace.

Neither the airline nor B/E Aerospace has revealed the exact seating plan for the premium economy section on the 787-9s, although it will have 21 seats.

The business-class seat that American will be installing will be the Super Diamond model, which the company describes as a “full-flat seat featuring luxury design influences and styling flexibility found in luxury transportation.” The lightweight seat uses a composite body that saves weight and adds structural integrity.

American will be the first U.S. airline to have a true premium economy product when the 787-9 Dreamliners go into service this summer.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)