American Airlines’ ‘one team-one plan’ for Trump is revealed

American Airlines’ laundry list of goals for 2019 is long. But the world’s largest carrier is apparently intent on achieving them as 2019 rolls along.

The carrier summed up what it wants to accomplish in a new graphic obtained by the Chicago Business Journal.

The graphic breaks down the goals into three groups — “Make Culture a Competitive Advantage,” “Build American Airlines to Thrive Forever,” and “Create a World-Class Customer Experience.”

t’s that last group of goals that likely will impact AA’s customers the most as they choose whether to fly with American this year or select a competitor like arch-rival United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL), which fiercely battles daily for market share with American at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, the only airport in the nation where two carriers compete on near equal footing.

Among the most important goals tied to AA’s customer experience is right at the top of the list: “Run safest and most reliable operation in our history.”

It’s understandable that AA would highlight that goal, as 2018 was an especially tough year for the carrier, operationally speaking.

During several months, AA was at or near the bottom of the pack among the nation’s four largest carriers in the on-time arrival metric. Lousy weather in several of AA’s largest hubs and technical glitches wreaked havoc with operations.

Now AA is determined to do everything in its power to make 2019 turn out different.

The airline still will have to deal with Mother Nature, which, when so inclined, can make operations miserable not only for American, but just about every carrier.

American also appears to be moving quickly to upgrade the inflight experience both domestically and internationally in 2019.

The carrier said it will complete installation of “industry-leading” Wi-Fi and live television on all the carrier’s Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 planes by the end of the second quarter of 2019.

AA also expects to have its new international premium economy product installed on all applicable aircraft by the end of Q2 in 2019. Premium economy is a significantly upgraded economy product with much roomier seats and expanded meal service at a much more attractive fare than is typically available in the business class cabin.

Further, American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) expects to have in-seat power available on 88 percent of planes in its fleet by the end of 2019.

Having opened five new gates at O’Hare last year, American is moving this year to open a whopping 15 gates at Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, the carrier’s largest hub, and five at Charlotte International Airport, AA’s second largest hub.

And on the heels of opening a completely removed Admirals Club and a new Flagship Lounge for premium international passengers at O’Hare, American is upgrading lounges in several more markets, including New York City’s LaGuardia Airport; Reagan National in Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, among others.