I shared years ago that American Airlines was planning to install business class suites with doors. I even revealed the specific seat they’d chosen, and then identified where they shared this with the FAA before making a public announcement.
While the seats were supposed to debut last year, they did not, since the first ones are planned to be onboard new delivery Boeing 787-9s – but Boeing has struggled and those deliveries have not yet happened.
American had to go to the FAA because federal rules prohibit ‘doors’ inside of a passenger cabin. Doors on individual seats are now commonplace.
Delta was first among U.S. airlines to install them. Yet these rules, meant to prohibit passengers being slowed down for instance moving between cabins in the event of an evacuation.
Airlines use curtains rather than doors between business class and premium economy or coach for this reason.
Airlines need to ask permission for this standard feature, and initially the FAA refused to consider their request because even though the agency literally has an office dedicated to American Airlines (certificate management office) they do not consider applications without an address or fax number on the letterhead.
A year ago United Airlines had one of its fleets grounded over similar bureaucratic issues. They forgot to ask the FAA for an exemption from the requirement that no smoking signs turn off and on, since their signs would not turn off (because smoking is never allowed on board, by law).
American, it seems, discovered another such issue with their new business class seats months after they were supposed to debut – the Boeing delays seem fortunate in this regard! – and they’ve asked the Department of Transportation for an exemption from an accessibility requirement.
- 14 CFR § 382.61 requires at least half of rows to have aisle seats that have moveable armrests to completely move out of the way, while the seatback remains upright, in order for a wheelchair passenger to transfer into the seat.
- These seats do not technically comply with that interpretation, however they do allow a passenger to “make a horizontal transfer or an assisted transfer into the aisle seat without being lifted over any obstacles” as the rule intends.
- The DOT granted this exemption already to Hawaiian Airlines for the same seat, and American Airlines needs them to explicitly grant it to them – since such exemptions don’t automatically apply to the same situations at other airlines going forward
The armrests on the seat lower to align with the seat platform and can bear over 500 pounds, facilitating transfers for passengers with mobility impairments.
The seat design allows horizontal or assisted transfers without significant obstacles due to pitch of at least 42 inches.
It’s not enough for American to put the seats into service, and be subject to any complaints for violating accessibility rules. Any technical non-compliance requires prior exemption.
And since they plan to put aircraft with these seats into revenue service in 2025, they’re asking the DOT for expedited approval – the DOT’s view of what’s standard versus expedited may not align with definitions used elsewhere..!
