American Reverses Course on 737 MAX 8 Seat Pitch Dilemma

In early May, Fort Worth-based American Airlines outlined plans to configure their soon-to-be-delivered 737 MAX 8 aircraft with 29-inch seat pitch in the main cabin. After reviewing customer feedback, the carrier is reversing this plan, adding at least 30-inches of pitch on the latest generation 737 aircraft.

American has 100 737 MAX aircraft on order with four to be delivered in 2017 and 16 in 2018, followed by 20 in each year after. “It is clear that today, airline customers feel increasingly frustrated by their experiences and less valued when they fly,” the company said in an internal statement.

The airline’s 737 MAX will be configured with 172 seats and one Main Cabin Extra row will be converted to standard economy in order to allow for this seat pitch change creating 30 Main Cabin Extra seats instead of 36.

Economy seats onboard the 737 MAX are Rockwell Collin Interior System’s Meridian design. The carrier says these are more comfortable than older generation economy seat designs.

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