American Airlines to Install Seatback Screens and Expand Premium Seats

American Airlines disclosed a comprehensive cabin-improvement program that will see state-of-the-art seatback screens installed on every new narrow-body aircraft starting in 2028, with retrofits planned for the current fleet. The displays are described as among the largest on North American narrow-body jets, offering high picture quality, seamless connectivity and personalized content. In parallel, the airline will boost the proportion of premium-cabin seats on its narrow-body planes from 25% to 40%, beginning with retrofits of its A319 and A320 fleets and later the A321neo, while new Boeing 737 MAX 10 deliveries will carry 24 first-class seats.

Heather Garboden, chief customer officer, said the initiative represents one of the most significant onboard experience investments in the airline’s history. The plan follows a reversal of a 2017 decision to remove seatback screens, acknowledging passenger demand for onboard entertainment. American hopes the upgrades will help it compete more effectively with Delta and United, which have been advancing similar premium-service strategies.