American Airlines has started rebuilding the interiors of its 20 Boeing 777-300ERs under a programme called Project Olympus, and the headline change is a decisive one: the airline is ending international first class for good. The first retrofitted jet, registered N718AN, is already flying between New York, Dallas and London, and the whole fleet should be done by the end of 2027.
The old layout had 304 seats: eight Flagship First, 52 Flagship Business, 28 premium economy and 216 economy. The new version squeezes in 330 seats total, with no first class at all. Business jumps to 70 suites using the Elevate Ascent reverse herringbone platform with sliding doors — American is the first carrier to put this seat on a 777-300ER. There are also eight 'Flagship Preferred' suites at the front, a business-plus style product with extra space and a bigger screen, putting American alongside United and JetBlue as one of the few US airlines offering that tier. Premium economy grows to 44 seats, while economy stays at 216.
So how do they fit it all in? Partly by trimming seat pitch — business loses about an inch — but mostly by reworking galleys and lavatories. The aircraft goes from 12 lavatories to nine, and galley space shrinks noticeably. That's the trade-off passengers will feel: more premium seats, but tighter premium economy and a busier working environment for crew.
The death of Flagship First is the bigger story. American was the last US airline selling an international first class, and it only existed on the 777-300ER and the transcontinental A321 subfleet — both now being refitted without it. The airline will stop selling Flagship First in November 2026, keeping the seats on sale as part of business until the retrofit finishes. It's part of an industry-wide shift: modern business suites have eroded first-class demand, and the carriers that still sell first do it as an ultra-exclusive luxury play, which was never American's strength. In some ways the new Flagship Business suites beat old Flagship First anyway, with better privacy and tech.
Elsewhere in the cabin, economy gets the new Collins Aspire seat with larger Thales Avant screens and Bluetooth, every cabin gets USB-C, and the aging Panasonic Wi-Fi is swapped for Viasat. After the 777-300ERs, American will retrofit its 47 777-200ERs (unifying their two different business seats) and its 37 787-8s.
For travellers, the practical takeaway: if you want the best seat on American's long-haul fleet, book one of these retrofitted 777s on the London routes — a Flagship Business suite with doors is now the top product, since there's no first class to upgrade into. And if you're flying economy, expect a fine experience with better entertainment and charging, just don't count on easy lavatory access at the back of a full aircraft.
