American Airlines has indicated on May 2 that it may bring back seatback entertainment screens across its mainline aircraft, following recent customer feedback regarding inconsistent onboard experiences. The airline responded to a traveler’s complaint on social media by acknowledging that “consistency is important.”
The topic is significant as many passengers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of uniform in-flight entertainment options, especially when compared to competitors. American Airlines removed seatback screens from most narrowbody aircraft in 2017, opting instead for more seats and larger overhead bins. While travelers can currently stream content to their own devices, calls for the return of built-in screens have increased.
Chief Commercial Officer Heather Garboden recently said to “stay tuned” for updates about seatback entertainment. The company has started retrofitting several aircraft and introducing new first-class seats on Airbus A319 and A320 models, which could signal changes soon. American last year began updating its legacy A319s by removing existing screens as part of a cabin overhaul.
Other airlines like Southwest have introduced tray tables or holders for personal devices, but American does not yet offer these features. In response to passenger concerns about this gap, the airline stated it would share such feedback with its onboard product team.
Competitive pressure appears to be influencing this reconsideration. Most widebody planes already feature seatback screens; however, domestic narrowbody jets do not due to past efforts aimed at increasing capacity and reducing weight and maintenance costs.
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