New Luxury Suites in B777-300 Connecting Dallas and Hong kong

In early May 2025, American Airlines (AA) sent a Boeing 777-300ER from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG) for a major cabin overhaul under its "Project Olympus" program. The retrofit aimed to replace the aging Flagship First Class with modern, fully enclosed luxury business class suites, aligning the 777-300ER fleet with the premium experience debuted on AA's Boeing 787-9P aircraft. These new suites, already in service on routes like Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) and Los Angeles (LAX), feature closing doors, HD entertainment screens, and ergonomic flat-bed seats, earning praise from passengers and even inspiring United Airlines to adopt similar seats for its future 787s.

However, after nearly a month at HAECO's Hong Kong facility, the 777-300ER returned to San Antonio (SAT) without any upgrades. Supply chain issues, specifically delays from the seat manufacturer, prevented the delivery of necessary equipment, as reported by Viewfromthewing and confirmed by aviation insider JonNYC. This setback has delayed AA's plan to phase out Flagship First Class and standardize its premium international cabins, leaving the 777-300ER as the only widebody in its fleet still offering the outdated first-class product.The delay exacerbates passenger dissatisfaction with the 777-300ER's current state. 

Flyers have reported broken footrests, malfunctioning seats, and outdated in-flight entertainment systems, issues worsened by AA's decision to postpone maintenance in anticipation of the retrofit. With no revised timeline for the upgrades, premium travelers may face inconsistent cabin experiences for longer than expected.The stalled retrofit highlights broader supply chain challenges impacting AA's modernization efforts. While the 787-9P's new suites set a high standard with modern amenities and sleek design, the inability to roll them out across the 777-300ER fleet raises concerns about AA's ability to deliver a consistent premium product. As the airline navigates these hurdles, passengers on its flagship widebody may continue to encounter outdated cabins, potentially affecting AA's competitiveness in the premium international market.