- American Airlines is expanding premium seating on narrowbody aircraft, adding first-class and extra-legroom main-cabin seats as it targets higher-spending travelers and seeks to improve earnings.
- Premium travelers generated nearly half of American's Q2 ticketed revenue while representing roughly 30% of seats, supporting the carrier's move to reconfigure more of its fleet toward premium capacity.
- The carrier will reverse its prior inflight-entertainment strategy by restoring seatback screens, with retrofits beginning in 2028 and completion expected in the early 2030s.
- American expects roughly break-even results this year, trailing Delta and United's profit outlooks and increasing pressure for its premium strategy to close the profitability gap.
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“meaningful gap”