- American Airlines is launching a special Flagship livery on a Boeing 777-300 (N735AT) in November, ahead of its centennial.
- The livery blends historical design elements, like the orange lightning bolt from the DC-3 era, with a modern aesthetic.
- The aircraft will be named “Flagship DFW” as an homage to American Airlines’ home and largest hub.
- This initiative precedes a planned interior refresh of the Boeing 777-300 fleet, starting next year.
- The refresh will introduce new Flagship Suite seats in business class, featuring privacy doors, wireless charging, and a chaise lounge.
- Premium Economy will also receive wireless charging, new headrest wings, and enhanced footrests.
- Main Cabin will be upgraded with 4K QLED screens, USB-C, and AC power, marking a first for a U.S. carrier in this cabin.
- American Airlines’ centennial celebration includes exclusive merchandise and historical items available through its Brand Store.
American Airlines is introducing a special Flagship livery on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft, registered as N735AT, beginning in November. This initiative comes six months before the airline’s official centennial celebration. The livery is designed to merge historical elements with a contemporary style, anticipating a refresh of the aircraft’s interior to feature modern and luxurious amenities.
Ron DeFeo, American’s Chief Communications Officer, stated that the design reflects the airline’s history while also looking toward its future. The “Flagship” designation has historically been associated with American’s premium travel experience. The current focus on customer experience aims to enhance premium travel across all stages of a customer’s journey. The application of the original Flagship design to a Flagship aircraft is intended to honor this legacy and embrace future developments.
The livery’s foundation is the airline’s Silver Eagle paint color, which is currently used across American’s mainline and regional fleet. A prominent feature is the reappearance of the orange lightning bolt motif, which was first introduced approximately 90 years ago on the Douglas DC-3. The DC-3 marked American’s initial venture into premium air travel. The Boeing 777-300, which will carry this special livery, operates on long-haul international routes to destinations such as Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. In line with a tradition of naming DC-3 aircraft after cities, this specific Boeing 777-300 will be named “Flagship DFW,” recognizing the airline’s home and largest hub.
Towards the rear of the aircraft, a roundel depicts an eagle connecting the world, symbolizing American’s extensive global network of over 350 destinations. This motif serves as a reminder of the airline’s growth since its first flight in 1926. Since the 1930s, American has provided an elevated “Flagship” experience, initially on transcontinental routes and now extending to its long-haul international network.
The airline plans to refresh the interior of its Boeing 777-300 fleet starting next year. This refresh will incorporate Flagship Suite seats, which debuted earlier this summer on newly designed Boeing 787-9 aircraft. These new Flagship Suite seats are American’s first business class product to include privacy doors, wireless charging pads, and a chaise lounge seating option with an adjustable headrest pillow. Additionally, American is introducing wireless charging in Premium Economy, a first for a U.S. carrier, along with new headrest wings and improved calf and footrests. Main Cabin customers will also experience an upgraded international inflight environment with 4K QLED screens, USB-C, and AC power. The refreshed 777-300s will feature 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.
These enhancements are part of American’s broader commitment to modernizing the travel journey and elevating the onboard customer experience. The airline’s centennial celebration also includes the availability of historic advertising, vintage imagery, and exclusive centennial-branded merchandise through the American Airlines Brand Store, with more items to be released throughout the centennial year. These offerings allow customers to engage with and commemorate key moments from the airline’s history.