San Antonio – American Airlines (AA) has begun retrofitting the first of ten Airbus A321neo aircraft it acquired from Alaska Airlines (AS), with the initial aircraft, registered as N950XV, now at San Antonio International Airport for modifications.
The first Airbus A321neo in this retrofit process was reportedly ferried from Miami International Airport (MIA) to San Antonio last week, as reported by aviation observer JonNYC.
This retrofit program aligns with AA’s strategy to standardize its narrowbody fleet, enhancing operational flexibility and offering a consistent onboard experience for passengers across its domestic routes.
Alaska Airlines’ A321neo Sale and Fleet Realignment
The ten A321neo aircraft were originally part of Alaska Airlines’ fleet after it acquired them from Virgin America in 2016. Last year, Alaska Airlines (AS) decided to sell these planes as part of its long-term plan to streamline its operations by focusing solely on Boeing 737 aircraft.
Alaska concluded A321neo operations on September 30, 2023, with its last revenue flight marking the end of its dual-fleet model, a significant milestone in its shift toward a Boeing-exclusive lineup.
During Alaska’s recent earnings call on October 19, CEO Ben Minicucci emphasized that the airline’s all-Boeing fleet strategy positions it to capitalize on cost efficiencies, benefiting maintenance, training, and overall fleet management. Alaska’s Vice President of Finance, Emily Halverson, added that the A321neos were acquired from the lessors before transferring ownership to American Airlines, ensuring a smooth transition.
Cabin Harmonization with Oasis Design
American Airlines (AA) is outfitting the ex-Alaska A321neos with its Oasis cabin interior, which already features on much of its existing narrowbody fleet. Oasis interiors include a streamlined design with dark blue seats in the main cabin, gray recliner seats in first class, and updated bulkheads.
However, this layout has faced criticism for limited legroom and the absence of seatback screens, elements that some passengers feel create an experience similar to that of low-cost carriers.
Since Alaska’s original A321neo configuration also lacked seatback screens, the transition to Oasis won’t significantly impact passenger expectations on these jets.
Despite this cabin update, American’s ex-Alaska A321neos will retain structural differences compared to other A321neos in its fleet. These early-production jets do not feature Airbus’s Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration, which influences exit placement and allows newer A321neos to hold a maximum of 196 passengers, as reported by Simple Flying.
The ex-Alaska jets have a conventional eight-exit layout, limiting them to 190 seats. However, they will match the seat count on American’s A321ceos, which will streamline the airline’s aircraft scheduling and utilization.
Next Steps in the Retrofit Program
Following the retrofit of the N950XV, American will continue with the remaining nine aircraft.
While the retrofit timeline for each aircraft is estimated to take several weeks, this project underlines America’s commitment to a unified cabin experience across its A321neo and A321ceo fleet, ultimately creating a more efficient and flexible fleet for its network needs.
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