American Airlines shrinks legroom on new 737 jetliners

Sore knees may become the norm for passengers on the US carrier's new Boeings as the airline has crammed more seats in, cutting down space inbetween.

American Airlines passengers will have less legroom on its new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Alan Diaz, / AP

Taller flyers might want to think twice about booking an American Airlines ticket – the US carrier is about to give economy passengers even less legroom.

The company will shrink the space between most rows to 30 inches (76 centimetres) on its newest Boeing 737 jetliners, its spokesman Joshua Freed said. That’s an inch less than on its existing 737-800 planes. At least three rows on the new 737 MAX jets will have only 29 inches, moving the world’s largest carrier closer to the offerings of deep discounters such as Spirit Airlines Inc. and Frontier Airlines.

American’s effort marks the latest push by US airlines to cram more passengers on to each plane by using new, slimmer seat designs that are supposed to maximise room for a passenger’s knees even as rows move closer together. America’s newest contribution to the so-called densification trend will begin in the third quarter when the carrier takes delivery of its first 737 MAX planes.

“These are well-designed seats built for this kind of a layout,” Mr Freed said. “We believe we’re still providing a good product for customers.”

He declined to identify which rows will have the least legroom. The MAX will have 172 total seats, including 36 in Main Cabin Extra, a higher-priced option with more leg room than the rest of the coach section. American will receive four of the narrow-body 737 MAX planes this year and 16 in 2018. It has 100 on order with Boeing.

The change may signal that American is ready to challenge the super-discount airlines for customers rather than battle with Delta Air Lines in particular over business travellers, said Alan Bender of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Having more seats means American can sell more lower-priced tickets.

“They may be choosing to play hardball with the ultra-low-cost carriers,” Mr Bender said. “If you’re not getting extra revenue from business fliers, you have to get more money from people flying in economy, and you can’t get more from people flying in economy unless you put in more seats.”

American is considering similar changes for any new 737-800 planes, Mr Freed said. The airline raised the seat count on its 737-800s to 160 from 150 starting in 2015. It also had increased seats on its wide-body 777-200 jets to 289 from 247.

“Just like every airline, with every new plane you look to have an efficient layout that makes use of the space on board and provides customers a good product,” he said. “There is some variability today on many fleets within coach cabins at our airline and others.”

The MAX will retain a first-class cabin with 16 seats. The spots with less pitch – or the distance from the back of one seat to the same spot on the one in front of it – will not be part of American’s Basic Economy fare, which comes at a lower price but with no extra frills.

The changes may also further split coach passengers from those flying in business or first class, Mr Bender said.

“The extremes are becoming more extreme” in air travel, he said. “I would believe those who are willing to pay a premium are going to get enhanced service.”

Southwest Airlines took advantage of new slimmer designs to add six seats to most of its 737s as part of a cabin refurbishing in 2012, and Delta took similar steps three years ago.

* Bloomberg