American Airlines to Roll Out Seatback Screens Across All Classes by 2028

American Airlines is making a significant investment in its onboard experience by introducing seatback screens in economy class on its narrowbody fleet by 2028.

The airline aims to outfit its entire 876-strong fleet of mainline single-aisle aircraft with economy class screens by the early 2030s. This move is a big step towards catching up with competitors Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, which already offer seatback screens in economy class.

American Airlines' 140 twin-aisle widebody planes already have seatback screens in all classes, as do its new long-range Airbus A321XLRs. Regional aircraft operating under the American Eagle brand will not receive screens.

The airline's chief customer officer, Heather Garboden, stated that this investment is "one of the most significant investments in the onboard experience in our history." The new seatback displays will be among the largest on narrowbodies when they debut in two years and will feature USB-C charging ports and bluetooth connectivity.

In addition to the seatback screens, American Airlines is also adding more premium seating options, including ultra-fast Starlink inflight connectivity on 500 planes beginning next year. The airline is also renovating and expanding Admirals Clubs across its network, adding new grab-and-go spaces and upgrading dining options.

## U-turn on Screens

American Airlines' decision to introduce seatback screens in economy class is a u-turn from its previous stance. The airline had previously argued that the cost of screens was not worth the investment, as most travelers brought their own portable devices.

However, with the airline industry's premium shift in recent years, American Airlines has recognized the need to invest in amenities that make sense and put a halo around its brand. The airline's chief commercial officer, Nathaniel Pieper, stated that investments in onboard food, seats, lounges, and Wi-Fi are essential for its premium global airline status.

## More Premium Seats at American

American Airlines is not stopping at seatback screens. The airline will also add more first-class and extra-legroom economy seats to all its mainline narrowbodies in the coming years. The aim is for premium seats to make up roughly 40% of all seats on single-aisle planes, up from around a quarter today.

The airline will offer 24 first-class seats on its Boeing 737 MAX 10s that are due to begin arriving in 2029. This is four more than American currently offers on its comparably sized Airbus A321neos.

| Aircraft Model | First-Class Seats | Extra-Legroom Economy Seats | | --- | --- | --- | | Airbus A321neo | 20 | 18-36 | | Boeing 737 MAX 10 | 24 | - |

The airline will reconfigure its A321neos with "additional first-class seats" but did not specify how many. American also did not say how many additional extra-legroom economy seats its narrowbody planes will receive.