American Airlines has begun the process of reconfiguring its Boeing 777 fleet with new interiors. Flightradar24 shows that American has sent N718AN, a Boeing 777-300ER, on a ferry flight to Hong Kong on December 7, 2025. The aircraft will receive new seats identical to its new Boeing 787-9 « 789P » subfleet, as well as a new interior layout with a higher capacity. This aircraft will likely enter service by spring 2026, as reconfigurations for the first aircraft in a specific fleet typically take longer.

American Airlines originally announced « Project Olympus » in 2022 and intended to commence retrofits in late 2024. However, the project was delayed until December 2025 due to constraints with suppliers. All 20 777-300ERs will be reconfigured, and American will also reconfigure its 47-strong Boeing 777-200ER fleet, although this project will commence later in the decade.

Boeing 777-300ER Reconfigurations Are Now Starting

American Airlines has begun the process of reconfiguring its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with new interiors as part of « Project Olympus ». N718AN is the first aircraft to be refurbished, and it was flown from Los Angeles International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport on December 7. While an exact timeline has not been revealed, this aircraft will likely be in the shop until next spring. This is because refurbishments for the first aircraft in a specific aircraft type take longer than for the rest of the fleet.

The first major component of these retrofits is the installation of new seats. Currently, the 777-300ER comes with Safran first class suites, the Safran Cirrus II reverse herringbone seat for Flagship Business, the Collins MiQ for premium economy, and the Safran 5751 for economy. The Olympus 777-300ERs will feature the Adient Ascent reverse herringbone seats with doors for Flagship Suites, the Safran Z535i for premium economy, and the Collins Aspire for economy.

These are the same seat models that American installs on the 789P subfleet. The current models are still competent, but ultimately outdated, and the refurbishments represent a significant upgrade to the passenger experience. Screen sizes will be enlarged in all three cabins, and premium economy will now feature privacy wings. Meanwhile, Flagship Business will now feature privacy doors (and will be rebranded to Flagship Suites), while the aircraft will also feature eight front-row Flagship Preferred suites with more space.

The New Interior Layout Of The Olympus 777s

The other component of the Olympus retrofits is the new interior layout. Data from aeroLOPA shows that currently, the 777-300ER comes with eight Flagship First suites, 52 Flagship Business seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 216 economy seats, for a total capacity of 304. With the Olympus retrofits, the 777-300ER will lose its Flagship First cabin (and subsequently, American will stop selling international first class), while gaining 18 Flagship Suites, 16 premium economy seats, and retaining the same number of economy seats.

In total, the Olympus 777s will feature 70 Flagship Suites, 44 premium economy seats, and 216 economy seats, for a total of 330 seats. In part, this more efficient layout is enabled through the removal of the Flagship First cabin, which takes up more space. In addition, American is redesigning the forward lavatories and galleys, removing two center lavatories, removing two lavatories, and shrinking the galley near the fourth set of exit doors, and installing an extra lavatory in the rear of the cabin. In total, the 777-300ERs will be losing three lavatories.

Perhaps the biggest change is that American Airlines will no longer sell international first class on long-haul routes. The cabin will still be available on Airbus A321-200s in the « 321T » subfleet on transcontinental routes, but these planes will be replaced by the Airbus A321XLR on these routes. The A321XLR will not feature first class, and the 321T subfleet will be reconfigured into a standard domestic layout.

American Airlines’ Interior Strategy

United Airlines has unveiled a new Polaris business class seat also based on the Adient Ascent, and Delta Air Lines is believed to be planning a new DeltaOne suite based on the Thompson VantageNOVA to debut on its Airbus A350-1000. However, both of these seats are expected to debut in 2026. As such, American’s Flagship Suites are currently the best business class seats in the United States by far.

Although American Airlines installs four types of business class seats on its widebodies, its three last-generation seats (Safran Cirrus II, Safran Concept D, Collins Super Diamond) are all fairly similar reverse herringbone seats. As such, American’s premium cabins are fairly consistent, and this is a benefit that the carrier will undoubtedly look to continue. The 777-300ERs are the first subfleet to receive the new cabins, as it’s American’s largest, most premium aircraft, and these planes have the oldest interiors in American’s widebody fleet.

The next aircraft to be reconfigured with new interiors will be the Boeing 777-200ER. Not only will these planes receive the new cabins, but they’re expected to be refurbished with a more premium layout, and the reconfigurations are expected to commence no earlier than 2027. No reconfiguration plans have been announced for the Boeing 787 fleet.