American Airlines will be getting rid of the last seat back entertainment systems in its narrowbody fleet of aircraft. However the plan to do this with their pre-merger Airbus A319s has been delayed to the end of 2025.
- When they replace the Airbus A321T planes flying premium cross-country routes with new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, the older “T”s will be converted in American’s standard domestic A321 format with more seats and less legroom. They will remove lie flat business and first class seats from those aircraft, and reduce the number of extra legroom coach seats as well. The new seats will not have screens.
- When they modify their Airbus A319s to have an additional row of first class, they will be adding seats to the planes and reducing legroom. (This extra row of seats is an addition, not a replacement for a row of coach.) The A319s that had been ordered by American Airlines prior to being taken over by US Airways management had seat back entertainment screens. The new, densified aircraft will no longer have these.
The plan for these 32 2013-era Airbus A319 planes begins with a prototype aircraft that was set to be modified this spring. According to aviation watchdog JonNYC, the prototyping has been put off to the end of 2025. I’ve reached out to American Airlines and will update if they offer comment.
Legacy American A319 (with screens) – Oasis has had it prototype accomplishment delayed from May to December of this year
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The retrofit of American Airlines Airbus A319s is a long time in coming. For three years they have been talking about adding first class seats to these aircraft. That finally appears to be happening.
- The planes have only 8 seats up front, compared to 16 on Boeing 737s and 20 on Airbus A321neos.
- American has limited its revenue potential without enough first class seats to sell to passengers. It’s not that upgrades are tough on these planes – buying first class can be tough on many routes.
- However, this project had to wait until they’d finished retrofitting other domestic narrowbody planes (Airbus A321s).
Legacy American Airlines Airbus A319 First Class, With Just 8 Seats And Entertainment Screens
American Airlines will be adding a row of first class to these planes (four seats). They will not be removing any coach seats to accommodate this. That means squeezing more seats into the plane. The space will come from smaller lavatories, and likely also an inch being shaved from existing first class and coach seats on these planes.
Seven years ago American Airlines launched a new domestic product with less legroom; less padding in the seats; no seat back entertainment screens; and smaller lavatories.. but bigger overhead bins (which help board faster and reduce delays).
Over the coming years American began retrofitting their existing planes into this (“Oasis”) configuration. That meant removing seat back screens from planes that had them. This slapped together project didn’t even get a cabin mockup first. There was so little thought into the product that they had to re-retrofit planes that had already been retrofitted (“Project Kodiak”) to fix mistakes.
However Airbus A319s never received the treatment. When American Airlines ordered the planes, before being taken over by US Airways, they were already in a dense configuration so they just updated the US Airways planes to match the American Airlines configuration (sans entertainment screens, and without taking the opportunity to add bigger bins).
Now the more padded seats will be ripped out, and with them seat back entertainment. American is literally putting a worse product into these planes.
It’s unclear why this plan is delayed, though. JonNYC muses that it could be in order to work out a new seatback entertainment system. When American Airlines made the decision to remove seat back screens from their planes nearly a decade ago, the systems cost about $1 million per plane. Now that they no longer need to be wired throughout the plane to each seat – they can be a tablet that receives content from a wireless server onboard – the cost can be one-third that or less. And seat back screens make a huge difference in customer satisfaction scores.
so, would I -like- to think that this could be AA taking a pause to consider maybe integrating a wireless tablet system that could be retrofit into the existing seats without too much hassle? I would. But pure musings at this time.
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) January 24, 2025 at 11:03 AM
American Airlines focuses on costs far more than revenue. That’s a big part of why they’re a financial laggard. They are a high cost airline and shaving small costs is insufficient to change their trajectory, especially at a time when airline products are becoming increasingly differentiated and consumers have shown a durable desirable for better experience (and a willingness to pay for it).
Operating reliably – and American likes to point to improvements in delays and cancellations, while ignoring their abysmal bag handling and involuntary denied boarding numbers – is table stakes. They have to get the operation right as a starting point, but then focus on the rest of customer experience to earn enough of a revenue premium to overcome their cost base. Having slots at London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda isn’t enough to do that. Setting up a possible future that brings back seat back entertainment, when Delta, United and JetBlue all have it, wouldn’t be enough to differentiate but it would help turn around perception and quality gap.
AA’s A319 legroom ALWAYS has been horrible . How can it get any worse? Especially bad on international flights ✈️
I haven’t flown on AA for 5 years and have no plans to do so ever again. Subscribing to this newsletter affirms this plan daily.
‘You’re going suffer, and you’ll like it!’ Gee, that sure is a compelling business strategy. Grew really tired of AA’s BYOD 737s over the years. DL is so much better about this–their a321neos are excellent, and they have inflight entertainments screens on everything except smaller regional aircraft like Embraer and CRJ. B6 is excellent as well, especially their newest Mint a321. UA is 50/50, but they know better. SWA doesn’t have anything, so maybe American strives to be more like them.
Mark my words….they’ll be adding seatback entertainment BACK into the airplanes within the next 5 years.
Er, why? People bring their own “entertainment” with them these days.
@Denver Refugee
Nice bootlicking for AA.
Clearly, you forgot about the hassles of BYOD, like having to download enough content before a flight, hoping that the onboard WiFi works (when it often doesn’t, even when above 10,000 feet and not over an ocean), keeping your phone/tablet propped up and adequately charged, having to put your devices away for taxi, take-off, landing, etc.
Airlines, like other businesses, set themselves apart from their competition by providing better services and benefits to customers. BYOD is not better than having a modern seatback entertainment screen with ample content, a flight tracker, etc. You personally don’t have to use it. Most of us seem to enjoy it when its there.
For those who forgot (and obsess how DL is better), The new A319 config at AA will match DL 12F/120Y. Alot of people on here seem to think the airline industry should be more like DL.
@1990. Downloading movies and shows to the iPad I am already traveling with, which can even be done at the airport while I wait to board, is not a hassle. I also setup Netflix to always have some recommended content downloaded. You are just making up excuses. Also, AA provides mounting brackets to hold your device at a more ergonomic level than on a plane with IFE where one has to hunch over to watch their move on the tray table. I find myself watching more of my own content on my iPad when on a plane with IFE than actually using the IFE. You are making excuses.
@Denver
Why do airplanes even have padding on the seats anymore? Maybe if they make the seats out of wood then the lazy passengers can bring their own padding and pillows etc….
You work for AA by chance?
As an adult capable of entertaining myself, space in footwells > IFE.
I mostly fly Southwest. That doesn’t seem to be a problem with their passengers.
What are the economics of costly alterations to make coach more miserable and then selling the expensive seats as discount upgrades? Is there enough return on investment? I don’t fly AA but I hope this disease doesn’t spread to other airlines.
I guess they save money by not adding the bigger bins.
Would have been a waste fitting bigger bins when current SOP is to shut the bins and force gate checking long before teh current standard bins are full
Another example of never spending a dollar more (unless its the CEO’s $34m pay packet)
Electric outlet repairs have been delayed to 2047.
Implementation of rear-seat entertainment screens, similar to United’s offerings, should be prioritized. Is American Airlines’ competitive strategy focused on Spirit or should it be Delta, and United?
American still wont make money flying people even with these changes.
@Mitch
Look how long it took to describe your ways of getting entertainment for your flight. Here’s mine: pop in headphones, turn on the screen and choose my show or movie.
I have plenty of devices. I’d rather leave them in the carry on and just watch whatever is on the airplane entertainment. Besides, almost every flight I take is 8-16 hours. That’s a lot of shows and movies to download. You can lipstick this pig all you want. But AA is taking away something customers want, and comfort, to save a buck. And you and I both know they won’t pass that savings along.
United removed in-seat entertainment years ago and got glossed as “dark birds”. They learned. Now American is going with the same experiment. Make up your mind; you want to be a LCC or a full-service airline. Straddling the two makes everybody unhappy.
The only mildly redeeming feature on the very sucky A319 equipment Is the ancient seat back entertainment system. LOL
The fact that a couple people on here can take this news and still defend AA is beyond me. And one flies southwest and doesn’t see the problem? Um last time I checked AA and Southwest are the two legacies that are NOT performing very well…
Elliot management dba Southwest will transform that airline into something unrecognizable. They’re already doing away with their “every man is equal” open seating and they’re going to start $$$ separating by who’s got more to spend. Two free checked bags? We’ll see for how much longer if their financials don’t turn anround. Add in the fact that they have no amenities, most planes have no inseat power, spotty WiFi… ick.
As for AA, no one believes in this airline. Customers hate them, investors hate them- I mean look at their stock! Plummeting after their dismal quarterly earnings report. Defend them as you will, the majority is arguing back, maybe not in words, but with their wallets. This business plan is not working, and they are unwilling to change. So as it is, Delta and United are just better.
Seatback ife definitely looks cool but the reality for me and I suspect many travelers is it’s completely unnecessary. It may still be worth it for brand perception though? Personally my galaxy tab has a way better and bigger screen with Bluetooth connectivity to my earphones already established in a way that really doesn’t make me want to use any provided ife. There are a lot of other things wrong about AA (lack of buy on board food on Y on a nearly 3 hour flight from MIA-STX over mealtime being front and center) but the ife isn’t a big deal from a practical standpoint.
@Mitch
Typo. I think you meant to start with ‘b’ not ‘m’ —you know, as-in, ‘b’ for bootlicker. It’s as if you work for American’s PR team.
Oh, I’m well aware of those awful ‘mounting brackets’ that you praised. I’m an EP and have flown a nauseous amount of times on those aircraft. Whether I’m flying AA or any airline, I also download content to my iPhone ahead of time—it’s still a hassle. My point remains: It’s still better to have IFE screens than not.
One last jab, just for: I bet you take photos with your iPad, too. Use that thang, grandpa!
@DenverRefugee
By all means, stick to SWA (and AA). Gary also recently posted about SWA’s hiring freeze and laying off of some crews, which is always a ‘great’ sign for any business. How exciting that SWA could be the next Spirit, Silver, etc. Use your remaining miles quickly!
Removing screens has to be one of the most idiotic things they’ve done. So many people watch them, have the latest movies you can’t get on streaming, and they’re great for families.
When getting on a plane with no screens it just says I am so poor now that I can’t even afford flying with a decent airline?
This guy talks alot of BS.
Yup, American airlines should waste money on those idiotic seat back screens. I’ve flown United plenty of times when the seatback screens won’t turn on, channel buttons are worn, and the screen will freeze, wifi is terrible!!!! And to the comment above about families, be quiet, American should waste money because of kids! As far as Jetblue is concerned, their hey days are long forgotten. American has managed to pull down the 15 billion dollar debt load they had, they recover better from irregular operations than United or Delta. They run a simple and clean product that most people appreciate! Conclusion, United and Delta are looking for better ways to cut cost!
@1990
You dumb troll. SWA is not laying off crews, they’re displacing them to other bases. Also, your ancient DAL screens suck big time, and UALs don’t work half the time.
@turk
If you’re taking long flights like that, then you’re on a WB. Those have IFE.
Whenever Gary mentions an anti-AA sentiment, the full force of these morons come out. But keep shilling those AA cards Gary, you two-face.
Frank,
2/3 of people on B6 and DL flights that have seatback AVOD use it even if it is only the moving map.
and since nearly all flights with AVOD also have streaming entertainment, AVOD is a choice.
as for the comments about the AA proposed 319 configuration matching DL’s 319s, that is not true. DL uses the Airbus Spaceflex cabin which has the rear lavs at the back of the aircraft and out of the cabin. Not only is the Airbus Spaceflex rear lav concept larger than the new Boeing 737 standard rear lav but the Airbus concept leaves room for another row of seats in the space that the lavs at the rear of the cabin but forward of the rear doors takes up. Same thing is true on DL’s 321CEOs.
Less comfort, fewer options, ridiculous routing, more costs. Eventually, I expect AA to try “stand up” fares. Passengers can stand up for the entire flight, for a higher fare of course.
Long haul flights will have vending machines soon..