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American Airlines finally brings Boeing's 777-300ER home

Although the long-haul plane has been in service for years, no U.S. carrier has flown it. But now American Airlines has begun flying the plane, and the airline's rebirth has begun.

Daniel Terdiman
Daniel Terdiman is a senior writer at CNET News covering Twitter, Net culture, and everything in between.
Daniel Terdiman
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New livery

American Airlines wants to rise from the dead, and after a dismal few years featuring bankruptcy, seats becoming unbolted, and a disastrous post-9/11 crash, the carrier may finally have turned the corner.

That may never be more true than now. Having launched service from Dallas to Sao Paolo, Brazil, aboard Boeing's 777-300ER, American becomes the first U.S. carrier to fly the world's most-successful twin-engine plane.

This is a look at the all-new plane, featuring American's brand-new livery.

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New tail

A look at American's all-new tail livery, as seen on the inaugural flight of the 777-300ER on Thursday.
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Wingtip

The wingtip of the 777-300ER, which American is flying in a 304-passenger, four-class, six-cabin configuration.
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Nose

A look at the nose of the 777-300ER, seen on the ground in Dallas before the plane's inaugural flight to Sao Paolo, Brazil, making American the first U.S. carrier to fly the plane.
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Backup 777-300ER

American had a backup 777-300ER ready for the inaugural flight from Dallas to Sao Paolo, Brazil.
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At the gate

American's first 777-300ER at the gate in Sao Paolo after flying in from Dallas on the inaugural flight for the new plane.
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Looking down at the plane

A look down at American's first 777-300ER.
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Front side

A look at American's 777-300ER, including a glimpse at the airline's all-new livery.
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Flight deck

The flight deck of American Airlines' first Boeing 777-300ER.
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The controls

A close look at the flight deck and the controls of American Airlines' first 777-300ER.
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iPad on board

A close-up of some of the 777-300ER's controls, as well as the iPad that gives the pilot easy access to the plane's manuals and technical information, all without requiring 35 pounds of paper.
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More controls

Another close-up of the flight deck's controls aboard American's inaugural 777-300ER.
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Flight computer

The 777-300ER's satcom, as seen in the cockpit of American's inaugural model of the world's most-succesful twin-engine aircraft.
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Stand-up bar

With the 777-300ER, American becomes the first U.S. carrier to feature a stand-up bar since the 1970s.
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Closeup of stand-up bar

A close look at the stand-up bar aboard American's 777-300ER.
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First class

American's 777-300ER has eight Zodiac UK First Class seats that are in a league all of their own, featuring swivel seating, two in-flight entertainment controls, an electronically controlled privacy divider, and the ability to let guests sit on an ottoman.
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First class flat beds

A look at the first-class seats, folded flat for overnight sleeping.
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First class Connectivity box

In first-class, passengers have access to a connectivity box that stores all cables inside the box, but lets them thread out the bottom. There's also a vanity mirror.
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No iPhone 5

The plane's in-flight entertainment system allows passengers to plug in any iPod device, but not the iPhone 5.
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First class luxury

Another look at the first-class seats aboard American's 777-300-ER.
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Business-class cubby

Business-class passengers can store some of their belongings in this cubby.
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Business class connectivity

A look at the connectivity ports in business class aboard American's 777-300ER.
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Business class

American's new Sigma business class cabin has been upgraded to feature a roomy configuration that has 52 seats with 75-inch pitch and 26-inch lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, according to Airchive.com's Chris Sloan.
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A look at business class

The business class section on American's new 777-300ER is roomy, but has all the charm of a roomful of office cubicles.
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Business class seat

A look at a business-class seat on American's 777-300ER.
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An espresso maker

An espresso maker aboard American's 777-300ER.
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Daytime in first-class

A look at a first-class seat in daytime configuration.
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Crew rest area

The crew rest area aboard American's 777-300ER.
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Main cabin

The main cabin on American's first 777-300ER.
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In-flight entertainment system

A look at the in-flight entertainment system in the main cabin of American's first 777-300ER.
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Lavatory

A look at the lavatory on board American's 777-300ER.
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Seat back

A main cabin seat tilted back. The plane carries 304 passengers in a four-class, six-cabin configuration.
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Stand-up bar

Another look at the stand-up bar aboard American's 777-300ER.
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Snacks

To help celebrate the inaugural flight of American's first 777-300ER, the stand-up bar is stocked with snacks.

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