American Airlines announced plans to upgrade its aircraft in the coming years, including installing seat-back entertainment screens at every seat.
The upgrades are coming to American's fleet of narrowbody aircraft, used for short- and medium-haul flights, including most of the flights it operates at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. American already has seat-back screens on more than 140 of its widebody jets used for long-haul international routes.
Changing customer preferences led American to bring back seat-back screens in a sharp pivot from its past in-flight entertainment strategy.
It moved away from seat-back screens more than a decade ago as customers brought their own devices on flights. The screens are also expensive to maintain
and add more weight to the aircraft, which burns more fuel.
Here's what American's new entertainment upgrades include and when they might come to Sky Harbor.
What upgrades are coming to American Airlines?
Features on American's upcoming seat-back screens include:
- "Industry-leading" screen sizes with large-format premium displays.
- 4K technology.
- Access to a broad selection of movies, TV shows, music, games and content.
- Personalized entertainment experiences.
- USB-C charging ports at every seat.
- Bluetooth audio connectivity.
When will American Airlines' new seatback screens debut?
Seat-back screens on American's narrowbody aircraft will debut in 2028 and will be gradually installed across its fleet, airline spokesman Jason Kadah said. American expects full fleet installation will be complete in the early 2030s.
It's unknown when the upgrades will debut on flights to and from Sky Harbor, but they'll "eventually roll through," Kadah added.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: American bringing back in-flight perk. When it'll land at Sky Harbor
