American Airlines is finally bringing back seatback screens after nearly 10 years in a premium push to win back customers

As airlines continue to shorten seat sizes and leg space, it may come as a surprise when they offer some amenities that don’t involve spending much earned money or miles.

Now, American Airlines is bringing back one amenity it cut nearly a decade ago: seatback screens.

The airline announced on Tuesday it will install 4k screens at every seat on all new narrow-body aircrafts from Airbus and Boeing starting in 2028.

The new screens will feature improved USB-C fast charging ports and bluetooth audio connectivity.

And for those who were splurging on their seats, the company is wooing higher-spending travelers by increasing premium seating across all aircrafts.

“From next-generation seatback entertainment at every seat to substantially more premium seating options, these enhancements will give our customers more ways to relax, stay connected, and enjoy their journey,” Heather Garboden, American’s chief customer officer, said in a statement.

The upgrades come as CEO Robert Isom looks for new ways to close the profit gap with rivals United Airlines and Delta Air Lines .

He told CNBC recently that the company’s “long-range plan is certainly making up the margin gap.” Starting next year, American is also implementing a Starlink wifi system into 500 of its narrowbodied aircrafts.

The Starlink system is the fastest Wi-Fi available on-board, providing fliers with advanced multigigabit connectivity.

Last year, American raked in over $54 billion in revenue.

Its competitors beat the airline by a steep profit gap.

United generated about $3 billion more in profit than American in 2025, according to CNBC , while Delta hauled in nearly $5 billion more than American.

American’s about-face on seatback screens also comes years after the airline and other competitors shifted to streaming entertainment on passengers’ personal devices.

Airlines said the lack of screens offset weight, hardware maintenance, and costs for short-haul flights.