American Airlines became the first US airline with an international premium economy product last October when it brought its first Boeing 787-9 into the fleet.

Premium Economy Seats from American Airlines Boeing 787-9

Since then Delta announced their own premium economy product, and they’ve taken delivery of their first Airbus A350 which has those seats.

American has the product so far on its Boeing 787-9s and on one Boeing 777-200 which has been retrofit. A second 777-200 is being retrofit with premium economy now. They’ve announced 777-200 service not just internationally but also for Hawaii (largely Dallas routes) so those will offer premium economy as well.

Back in May they announced a schedule to add premium economy to their fleet as follows:

• Boeing 777-200: June 2017 start, March 2018 completion
  
• Airbus A330-200: September 2017 start, December 2017 completion
  
• Boeing 777-300ER: December 2017 start, June 2018 completion
  
• Boeing 787-8: March 2018 start, June 2018 completion

American’s Boeing 767s and Airbus A330-300s aren’t going to offer Premium Economy. Instead those widebody aircraft will be leaving the fleet in the next few years.

American has beaten their September-projected start for beginning the Airbus A330 project, with the first one — tail number N279AY — having been flown from Philadelphia to Paine Field today.

These aircraft currently have 20 business class seats — reverse herringbone Zodiac seats, similar to what American offers on its Boeing 777-300ERs — and 238 economy seats. N279AY is the oldest one in the fleet, delivered in June 2009. All the A330-200s have seat power and internet, but no Main Cabin Extra extra legroom economy seating.