American Airlines Elevates Regional Flying with Upgraded Cabins, Free Wi-Fi, and More

by Anthony Losanno
the inside of an airplane

Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

American Airlines operates the largest regional fleet of any US carrier. Today it announced that it’s rolling out significant upgrades to transform the short-haul travel experience. The initiative aims to align the onboard feel of its regional aircraft with that of its mainline fleet and to offer customers a consistent, modern, and connected journey no matter the distance.

Beginning this fall, customers will start to see refreshed interiors on select Embraer E175 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. Updates include a clean, contemporary cabin design with new seat coverings that match the look and feel of American’s mainline aircraft. The upgrades extend beyond aesthetics. Each seat will feature power outlets to allow travelers to stay charged from takeoff to landing. Over time, American plans to retrofit the rest of its dual-class regional fleet, including Bombardier CRJ700, Bombardier CRJ900, Embraer E170, and Embraer E175 aircraft. The goal is to complete the transition over the next few years to ensure consistency across the entire network.

AA Regional 2

American already offers high-speed gate-to-gate satellite Wi-Fi on nearly 300 regional jets. By early 2026, this will extend to its entire dual-class regional fleet. Starting in January, AAdvantage® members will also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi.

To create uniformity across all flights, American has streamlined its onboard snack program. Premium cabin travelers on regional routes now have access to a midday snack basket, which complements existing morning and evening offerings. The change ensures customers receive a familiar service experience whether flying on a mainline or regional aircraft. Additionally, AAdvantage® members can redeem miles for inflight purchases across the network to make it easier to maximize loyalty rewards while enjoying onboard amenities.

AA Regional 1

American is working with Embraer to design and introduce larger overhead bins for its larger regional aircraft. This innovation will help accommodate more carry-on bags, reduce gate-checking, and streamline the boarding process.

Anthony’s Take: American has been on a roll and really working towards becoming a more premium airline. With these upgrades, it’s redefining expectations for regional flying. By aligning interiors, offering reliable Wi-Fi, enhancing service, and addressing customer pain points like carry-on space, the airline is working to deliver a better experience for millions of travelers across its short-haul network.

(Image Credits: American Airlines.)

User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.

Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

Leave a Comment

Related Articles