American Airlines to Offer Reduced Legroom on Some Aircraft

Coach cabin in a current 737-800

American Airlines, the world’s largest carrier, said Wednesday it plans to reduce the amount of legroom in coach on some of its planes.

The Fort Worth-based airline plans to reduce the seat pitch on its new Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft from 31” to 30” in most rows and from 31” to 29” in the last three rows to make room for more seats in the cabin.

The airline didn’t specify who will get to sit in the last three rows.

In January, the airline said it wouldn’t install seat-back in-flight entertainment screens on the 737-800 Max aircraft because most passengers bring their own electronic devices with them.

When the new planes go into service starting in 2019, they will have over 170 seats, an increase over the 160 in the airline’s current 737-800s. The cabins will continue to have 16 seats in first-class with no reduction in seat pitch as well as the airline’s premium-economy lite section, Main Cabin Extra, which will offer a few extra inches of pitch for an additional fee.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)