SAN ANTONIO- American Airlines (AA) flew a Boeing 777-300ER from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG) in early May for a long-awaited cabin overhaul.
The retrofit, aimed at introducing fully enclosed luxury suites under its “Project Olympus” program, was expected to modernize the airline’s flagship widebody fleet.
However, after nearly a month abroad at HAECO’s Hong Kong facility, the aircraft returned to the U.S. without undergoing any changes due to supplier-related delays—highlighting growing challenges in the airline’s cabin modernization timeline.
Photo: Clément AlloingAmerican Airlines Project Olympus Delay
American Airlines had planned to replace its aging Flagship First Class on the Boeing 777-300ER fleet with an upgraded business class featuring fully enclosed suites, similar to those debuting on its Boeing 787-9P aircraft.
These suites, first introduced on AA’s new Dreamliners flying routes such as Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) and Los Angeles (LAX), mark a significant upgrade in passenger experience.
To initiate this retrofit, the airline flew its first 777-300ER to Hong Kong (HKG) in May 2025 for interior refurbishment. However, due to a supply chain bottleneck involving the seat manufacturer, the necessary equipment never arrived at the HAECO facility, Viewfromthewing reported.
Aviation industry insider JonNYC confirmed that the retrofit could not proceed. The aircraft subsequently returned to San Antonio (SAT) untouched by the planned improvements.
This delay further pushes back American’s plan to remove Flagship First and transition to a more uniform premium cabin experience across its international fleet. The airline has yet to announce a revised timeline for retrofitting additional aircraft.
Photo: American AirlinesOutdated Interiors and Passenger Frustration
Passengers flying on American Airlines’ current Boeing 777-300ER fleet have reported deteriorating conditions, including broken footrests, malfunctioning seats, and outdated in-flight entertainment systems.
These issues stem from the airline’s decision to defer interior upgrades in anticipation of the Project Olympus retrofit.
With no immediate solution in place, flyers may continue to experience older cabin standards while American works through supply chain hurdles. The 777-300ER remains the only widebody in AA’s fleet with Flagship First Class, making the delay all the more impactful for its premium clientele.
Photo: American AirlinesNew Business Suites on 787-9P
American’s newest business suites have already impressed travelers on its 787-9P aircraft. These suites feature fully closing doors, backlit HD entertainment screens, and patented seatbelt designs that allow for maximum comfort in flat-bed mode.
United Airlines (UA) has even announced it will adopt a version of the same seat for its future 787 deliveries.
These modern cabins, combined with sleek lighting and upgraded seating ergonomics, represent the future standard that American wants to set for its international service. However, the delay in rolling them out across additional aircraft types raises concerns about consistency in the passenger experience.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
American Airlines to Deploy its 787 with New Flagship Suites to this City
The post American Airlines Delays Luxury Project Olympus on Boeing 777-300ER appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
![3-latek na parapecie. Pijana matka spała [FOTO]](https://swidnica24.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/gzyms.jpg)
