American Airlines will restore seatback entertainment screens across its narrowbody fleet and lift premium seating from about 25% to about 40% of narrowbody capacity over the coming years. The Fort Worth-based carrier plans the changes for Airbus A319, A320 and A321neo aircraft, as well as future Boeing 737 MAX 10 deliveries, with the first new installations due in 2028 and completion expected in the early 2030s.
The programme reverses American’s earlier move away from seatback displays in favour of personal-device streaming and brings more First Class and Main Cabin Extra seats into the cabin mix. The new system will include USB-C charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity, while the screens are expected to rank among the largest on narrowbody aircraft in North America, with 4K resolution, personalised content and improved flight maps.
American plans to retrofit more than 800 narrowbody aircraft as it seeks to compete more directly with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines for higher-spending travellers. The airline did not disclose the cost of the project.