With the largest regional fleet of any U.S. carrier, American Airlines is redefining what travellers can expect from short-haul flights. American is investing in the details that matter most to customers by transforming the onboard experience on its regional aircraft to better match its mainline aircraft.
As part of a phased rollout beginning this fall, customers will start seeing refreshed regional aircraft interiors paired with fast WiFi and power at every seat. These modern touches will ensure that every flight – no matter the distance – delivers the comfort, consistency and connectivity customers deserve.
American currently has high-speed gate-to-gate satellite WiFi on nearly 300 regional aircraft, which will expand to the full dual-class regional fleet by early 2026, as it introduces complimentary WiFi for AAdvantage members in January.
“Our customers value staying connected in the air, even on a relatively short flight,” said Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer, American Airlines. “We’ve been working diligently to ensure our regional fleet offers the best and most reliable high-speed connectivity, especially as we look ahead to free WiFi in 2026.”
When customers step onboard the newly delivered Embraer 175 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, they’ll notice the difference immediately. The clean, modern cabin design features updated seat coverings that mirror the look and feel of the mainline fleet. In addition to the refreshed look, the aircraft include in-seat power so customers can keep their phones, tablets or laptops charged and ready from takeoff to landing.
American plans to roll out the new regional interior by retrofitting all the CRJ700, CRJ900, E170 and E175 aircraft operated by its regional carriers. The aircraft retrofits are expected to be completed over the coming years.
American has streamlined its onboard snack offerings to create a more consistent experience across both mainline and regional flights. Customers in the premium cabin on regional flights can now enjoy a midday snack basket to complement the morning and evening snack baskets, ensuring uniform service throughout the network. Additionally, AAdvantage members can now redeem AAdvantage miles for inflight purchases on all flights, making it even easier to enjoy onboard offerings while maximising loyalty rewards.
For customers who prefer to travel with a carry-on suitcase, American is working with Embraer on developing and designing larger overhead bins for its larger regional aircraft. The airline anticipates rolling out the aircraft with larger overhead bins in the coming years, creating more room for bags and making boarding smoother for customers flying on regional aircraft.
