The strategic pivot marks a significant shift for the airline, which previously removed seatback monitors to cut weight and costs. Heather Garboden, the company's chief customer officer, noted that the rapid advancement of display technology over the last ten years prompted the reversal. The upgrades are part of a broader effort to improve the premium passenger experience and narrow a widening profit gap between American and its primary rivals. While American reported a $71 million profit last quarter, competitors like United and Delta posted earnings of $805 million and $1.6 billion, respectively. To regain momentum, CEO Robert Isom is overseeing a fleet-wide overhaul that includes adding more first-class seating and extra legroom. The company is also developing new business-class suites for its refurbished Dreamliners and evaluating new wide-body aircraft acquisitions.
In section CEO World
American Airlines Reverses Course on In-Flight Entertainment
After a decade of relying on passenger-owned devices, American Airlines is reinstalling seatback screens across its fleet. The carrier plans to equip new Boeing and Airbus deliveries with 4K displays starting in 2028, aiming to complete a full retrofit of existing aircraft by the early 2030s.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!