American Airlines will restore seatback screens on its narrowbody fleet and expand premium seating across those aircraft in a major cabin overhaul unveiled in Fort Worth, Texas. The rollout starts with new Airbus and Boeing deliveries in 2028, then moves to retrofits on existing jets, with full installation expected in the early 2030s.
The carrier is reversing a long-running no-screen strategy on short- and medium-haul aircraft as it looks to strengthen its position on domestic and short-haul international routes, where cabin comfort and onboard entertainment can influence higher-paying travellers. American plans to equip more than 800 narrowbody aircraft over time with 4K seatback displays, USB-C charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity.
Premium seating on narrowbody departures is set to rise from about 25% to roughly 40%, driven by more first-class seats and additional Main Cabin Extra capacity. American already has seatback screens on more than 140 widebody and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, but the new programme extends that product much more broadly across its mainline narrowbody fleet.