American Airlines is unveiling a brand new interior for some of its larger regional jets – and the photo that’s been revealed by aviation watchdog JonNYC appears to be just fantastic.
Seriously, what’s with everything being so nice with American Airlines all of a sudden? I was surprised by the incredible styling work on their new Boeing 787-9s and the new-design business class Flagship lounge in Philadelphia looks great. But no longer treating regional jets as an afterthought seems next-level.
PSA’s 76-seat dual class configuration, and it will debut an upgraded interior that includes multitoned seats, new floor proximity lighting plus American Eagle insignia in the galley and entrance areas. These aircraft are also being outfitted with in-seat USB-C and USB-A charging stations in the front of the seat and satellite wi-fi functionality that will further enhance our customers’ experience.
Aircraft 639 will enter service in July and we expect four additional aircraft, currently in the late stages of upgrades, to be introduced to our fleet by the end of the year.
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) June 4, 2025
American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airlines operates Bombardier CRJ-700 and -900 regional jets as American Eagle and has crew bases in Charlotte; Philadelphia; Dallas; Dayton and at Washington National airport. Their -900 larger regional jets will be the ones to debut this new interior.
Most travelers prefer Embraer E-175 regional jets over these planes, because these cabins aren’t as spacious (and don’t offer as much overhead bin space, though I have no problem with my standard carry-on, so you often wind up with those valet bag tags). However this new interior looks really gorgeous for a regional jet, and better than the interior of American’s mainline narrowbody fleet.
I’ve been a fan of first class on regional jets, configured with one window seat on the left side and two seats together on the right side of the aircraft. They don’t have ovens in the galleys, but before the pandemic American’s regional jet first class (cold) meals were often better than mainline. The airline hasn’t returned to that standard.
For some time I’ve avoided regional jets due to lack of functional wifi, but with this year’s transition to satellite wifi that changes completely. And despite my preference for the larger Embraer’s, I will try to seek these out to get a closer look.
@ Gary — And the completion of this roll out will be when, 2030?
I was on a plane recently that had only USB-C ports. Lesson learned.
I figured that the new 78Ps would also lay out the overall brand identity AA will transition to. Based on just a hunch, and no other evidence, I expect to see this styling on many more aircraft types
Kind of amazing really. AA’s new Customer officer said the other day that 25% of regional jets already have high speed wifi.
That rollout is really impressive. But I don’t have a comparison for UA or DL to gauge.
“Plus, we’re equipping our regional aircraft with satellite Wi-Fi and already have more than 25% of our regional jets flying with high-speed Wi-Fi today. “
“Seriously, what’s with everything being so nice with American Airlines all of a sudden?” Seconded.
Also, JonNYC really is fantastic, too.
Looks fresh! Glad the smaller jets are getting some TLC too.
There’s a twitter mole somewhere in AA and I’m convinced they’re releasing these to different select groups of employees every time to snuff out who xjonNYC really is, or who she/he knows.
Can’t wait to try out 1 of these upgraded jets.
https://youtube.com/shorts/yzogpzCpCFI?si=Xcm0pyvtNqgDLYpK
Is there any update on the status of the regional fleet WiFi upgrades? Are they 10% finished, 50% finished, 2% finished…
great news esp. on adding power.
RJs have been 2nd class specifically because of the lack of amenities. Adding WiFi and power goes a very long way to elevating the experience.
Hope this is indeed one of a number of product and service upgrAAdes.
Thanks, Gary ! Just flew an AA RJ from DFW to AUS this past Saturday, and the experience was terrible. Flight was late, no working AAInflight, no drink service, and overhead bins were sized for purses, not bags. This news that they’ll upgrade an astonishing (5) RJ aircraft is essentially click bait, the odds of receiving this improved service are virtually nil.
Nothing you can do to a 4-across CRJ can change the fact that it’s a vile sardine can for torturing people in. NOTHING
Current Employee — All PSA jets will have new Satellite WIFI equipped by end of 2026.
This style cabin will finish completion by end of 2026 as well. Things are moving quick.
My favorite domestic F seats are on the 1-side of the RJs. Get a window and an aisle. More privacy. Don’t have to interact with another pax. Pure heaven.
thanks for the update, flyboy.
Ironically, large RJs may be the first place that all of the big 3 are on roughly the same par – all 3 are working on WiFi on RJs.
DL is clearly out in front on mainline WiFi but AA will take a solid 2nd place when they turn it on for free in 2026, well ahead of UA.
I am optimistic that AA management realizes what they need to do to return their service to competitive levels – along w/ retraining their employees.
@TexasTJ, you’re right. The odds of receiving an inflight service on DFW-AUS, which is fewer than 190 miles, is – and will always be – nil. Back before the pandemic, WN used to somehow slide in a drink service at least half the time on OAK-RNO, about the same distance (25 minutes airtime) and never charge due to lack of time. But that was WN and not AA, and was before the pandemic before every service industry realized they don’t need to try to keep us coming back.
Just an FYI for everyone:
The FCC reallocated the band spectrum for ground-based WiFi a while back. The sunset date for this has been deferred a couple of times, but now the official drop-dead date for ground-based WiFi is EOY 2026. That means that all regional jets flying have to transition to satellite-based WiFi before then, or else the a/c won’t have any WiFi capability. That is why you see all regional carriers upgrading their RJs to satellite WiFi, and doing so very quickly in an effort to not have tails flying without connectivity.
United has already installed SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed, low-latency satellite wifi in over thirty UAX E175s. This service blows the competition away enabling live streaming, cloud-based work applications, and gaming with complimentary access provided to all Mileage Plus members. United will eventually be installing it throughout its fleet and all UAX 70+ seat RJs.
JL
and yet DL already has free high speed WiFi on over 850 of its mainline aircraft and has turned it on for most of its longhaul international network, AA has the equipment now and is turning free WiFi on domestically next year – both of which will be long before UA gets to anywhere near the level of AA and DL mainline.
all of the big 3 are adding free WiFi to their regional jets and will likely get the majority of their aircraft with it fairly soon into 2026.
UA high speed wifi is already at the industry level throughout its fleet and its free for select customers such as TMobile users. As the SpaceX Starlink is installed throughout the UA/UAX fleet over the next couple of years it will far exceed US competition except for Hawaiian Airlines that has Starlink too.
The same exact photo and info (and then some) showed up in my LinkedIn feed yesterday from a post by PSA President & CEO Dion Flannery. So doesn’t seem leaked.
@DinDFW — Shh… you’ll ruin all the ‘hype’… let Gary dream a lil!
JL,
and yet free for SkyMiles members covers a larger number of customers than T Mobile customers
sure, Starlink is faster but who really can’t do what they need to do with AA or DL’s WiFi? Not many.
and DL has it on all but about 90 of its mainline aircraft RIGHT NOW and AA will have it on that many aircraft in 2026.
UA is playing catch up.
If it is convinced its equipment and service is industry comparable, UA should be able to flip the switch for free WiFi on comparable terms as DL now and AA will be in 2026.
@Tim Dunn is right (again!) that Delta’s free WiFi is superior (to AA and UA); the only other carrier that’s doing it right, currently, is jetBlue (great free WiFi, too, even on transatlantic flights!)
I’m fine with current regional jets for flight lengths appropriate for regional jets. I get the solo seat in F. I have no real need for wifi. And, my devices are all fully charged when I board. The phone stays fully charged, since it’s off. And, my tablet and Bluetooth earphones lose at most 20% on a typical regional flight. I rarely uses power ports on long flights that have them. And, at least for now, I always have a fully charged power bank in my backpack.
United has Wi-Fi on every mainline airplane. I’m surprised Delta has any mainline planes without Wi-Fi. Starlink is a quantum leap.
We get it @Tim Dunn you are a DL and AA fan.