American Airlines moved a step closer to bringing its new Flagship Suite Premium cabins into service this week. The Flagship Suites, first announced in September 2022, have been approved by the US Department of Transportation for the purposes of accessibility.
The DOT requires that a portion of all seats on board be equipped with a movable armrest, “that completely moves or folds out of the way while the seatback remains in an upright position to permit a passenger with a mobility impairment to safely make an unobstructed transfer from an aisle wheelchair to his or her aircraft seat, either independently or with assistance from carrier personnel if the passenger’s physical ability necessitates such assistance.”
Modern suite seats do not have a traditional armrest that can be moved. As a result, airlines must demonstrate that the seat can be adjusted to allow similar access. American Airlines filed its request for the approval on 1 November 2024.
From the filing:
American states that it intends to introduce the aircraft with Flagship Suite seats into service in 2025. American states that the Flagship Suite seats have armrests that do not completely move or fold out of the way; however, they do lower to the same level as the seat platform and can support a passenger’s weight, so that the passenger can be transferred directly across the armrest and into the seat. American states that the armrests can support a weight of over 500 pounds. American also states that the pitch and dimensions of the seat allow for passengers with mobility impairments to make a horizontal transfer or an assisted transfer into the aisle seat without being lifted over any obstacles. American provided videos demonstrating a carrier-assisted transfer of a person with a mobility impairment from an aisle or boarding wheelchair to those seats. American also supplied diagrams and other data related to the seats in question. After review of American’s application and related materials, we determine that the seats do provide substantially equivalent access, such that an EAD is appropriate.
Such approvals are nearly universally granted, but they must be requested and they take time to process.
The carrier had previously hoped the new seats would enter service in 2024. With this approval that should now happen later this year. American expects delivery of eight 787s this year. Several were delayed from 2024; it is unclear if that delay was tired to the seating certification or other Boeing-related issues.
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Does this ruling affect positively the A321XLRs as well as the B-300s and 787/9s_
This filing only impacts the twin-aisle aircraft. It is a different seat and manufacturer than the A321XLR.
There has also been some progress on the single-aisle side of things, but this is not that. I still need to write that bit up.