American Airlines is moving forward with a plan to bring its regional aircraft more in line with its mainline fleet. With the largest regional fleet of any U.S. carrier, the airline says it is focusing on upgrades that emphasize comfort, consistency, and connectivity.
The phased rollout is set to begin this fall, with updates extending across multiple aircraft types over the next few years.
Wi-Fi and Connectivity
American already has high-speed satellite Wi-Fi available on nearly 300 regional aircraft. That service is scheduled to expand to the entire dual-class regional fleet by early 2026. At that time, the airline also plans to introduce complimentary Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members.
Cabin Interiors and Seating
Travelers boarding newer Embraer 175 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft will see cabin interiors designed to more closely resemble the mainline fleet. This includes updated seat coverings and in-seat power for charging devices. American intends to retrofit its CRJ700, CRJ900, E170, and E175 aircraft with these refreshed interiors over the coming years.
Service Consistency
The airline is also aligning its onboard snack service. Passengers in the premium cabin on regional flights will now have access to a midday snack basket, complementing the morning and evening offerings already in place. Additionally, AAdvantage miles can now be redeemed for inflight purchases on all flights.
Carry-On Space
Looking ahead, American is working with Embraer to design larger overhead bins for its larger regional aircraft. The goal is to create more space for carry-on bags and streamline the boarding process.
Analysis
I’m looking forward to the refreshed American Eagle cabins. It’s good to see American focusing on enhancing the customer experience and standardizing its service across the network. While snack baskets in first class feel limited compared to snack boxes, the overall upgrades improve the regional experience. In some cases, I’ve even found first class service on regional flights to be better than on mainline.
