American Airlines is to install seatback entertainment screens at every seat across its narrowbody fleet, the carrier announced Tuesday.
The "state-of-the-art" screens will be on all new Airbus and Boeing aircraft deliveries starting in 2028, as well as on retrofitted aircraft, according to American. The new displays will be rolled out "as quickly as possible," with the full fleet installation expected to be complete by early next decade.
The screens will have "large-format premium displays," 4K technology, expanded content and partnerships, and personalized entertainment recommendations along with enhanced flight maps with destination information, according to the carrier, which added that its widebody fleet already offers seatback screens, as do the carrier's Airbus A321XLR narrowbody aircraft.
In addition, American is retrofitting the majority of its narrowbody fleet to expand the number of Main Cabin Extra seats, "providing even more access to extra legroom, earlier boarding, dedicated overhead bin space and a complimentary beverage." The carrier also is refreshing the fleet's interiors. American did not provide the number of additional Main Cabin Extra seats that will be available, and the company still is finalizing the timelines on when those retrofits and new aircraft deliveries will be available.
The seatback news comes after American noted that it has been retrofitting Airbus A319 and A320 narrowbody aircraft with extra premium seats, bringing its First-Class offerings on those planes to 16 and 12, up from 12 and eight, respectively. The carrier's upcoming deliveries of the Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft will have 24 First-Class seats and the Airbus A321neo also will be reconfigured to offer additional First-Class seats, according to American.
"We continue to see strong demand for premium products across our network, including from business travelers who increasingly value space, comfort and productivity on the ground and in the air," American SVP of global sales Lucas Martin told BTN in an email. "Business travel demand remains robust, with our managed corporate revenue up 26 percent year over year in the second quarter. Expanding premium seating reflects how customers are choosing to travel today and ensures aircraft are aligned with those preferences."