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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

An espresso maker aboard American's 777-300ER.

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

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

The main cabin on American's first 777-300ER.

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

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

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

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

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