0 min left

Twitter Leaks a First Look at Project Kodiak

Earlier in January 2020, FlyerTalkers were critical of American Airlines’ plan to retrofit domestic first-class again with “Project Kodiak,” a follow-up to the universally panned “Project Oasis.” Now, the first look of what those seats will look like has made it to the internet.

When “Project Kodiak” was first announced, FlyerTalkers were disappointed that after the first round of changes, a second one was immediately on the way. Now, the reality is setting in as a set of pictures from the retrofit have hit the internet. Courtesy of Twitter user xJonNYC, the first look at the new premium cabin is in place.

The First Look Inside “Project Kodiak”

The pictures posted online accurately reflect many of the adjustments we were promised with the completion of “Project Kodiak.” To begin, under-seat storage areas were updated for larger items, but remain divided as if it were three passengers to the row. The flexible leather divider – similar to what TWA used in the 1990’s to divide the premium and economy cabins – is in place to create more privacy. And the seats are slimmer, albeit wider than a traditional economy seat.

From the photos, there are still several different promised improvements we haven’t seen from the upgrade. These include the built-in tablet holders to replace the lost in-flight entertainment screens, or where the power outlets will be positioned to keep those items powered on. We also don’t know what kind of aircraft the pictures came from, leaving one to wonder if this will be the standard aboard all narrowbody aircraft, or if there will be some variations between the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

What Else Is Coming to “Project Kodiak?”

The biggest irritation for flyers was the reduced legroom sitting in Row 1, the “bulkhead” of the first class cabin. From the photos, it appears that the legroom issue has been improved. In addition, the aisle seats – and width of the aisle itself – also appears to be fixed, reducing the “funnel” effect that comes from entering the passenger compartment.

Despite the first look, it’s unclear when this configuration will start flying commercial passengers, nor when American will begin retrofitting other aircraft. But one thing is clear: these new pictures give us insight into the future of domestic first-class aboard American.

What’s your take on the new cabin? Share your thoughts on the FlyerTalk forums!

0 Comments