American Airlines Boosts In-flight Experience with New Seatback Screens

American Airlines is revamping its in-flight experience to better compete with rivals Delta and United. The carrier has decided to bring back seatback screens, which will feature 4K displays, starting in 2028 with new deliveries from Boeing and Airbus. Additionally, the airline will retrofit existing aircraft to include these screens and other amenities like Bluetooth audio pairing and USB-C charging.

The decision comes after months of consideration by American Airlines' executives, who initially felt that seatback screens were not worth the cost due to their weight and equipment requirements. However, with advancements in technology, Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden notes that customer preference and satisfaction improvements can generate revenue.

As part of its revamp, American will also increase premium seating options, including more first-class seats on Airbus A321neos and Boeing 737 Max 10s. The airline aims to close the profit gap with Delta and United, which have reported higher profits in recent quarters.