Travel’s premium boom is only accelerating in the second half of 2026.
The latest evidence comes from American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, who shared at an industry conference that just 30% of the carrier’s seats drive half of the airline’s revenue.
“Those 30% of seats, they’re only going to grow in our fleet as the reconfigurations come on board as the new aircraft deliveries come on,” Isom said at a Morgan Stanley conference on Wednesday, according to CNBC.
American is redesigning its fleet to vastly expand its premium seating options.
Initiatives include retrofitting its existing Boeing 777-300ER planes with new 70-suite business-class cabins, nearly doubling the percentage of premium seats across its narrowbody fleet from 25% to 40%, and the continued rollout of its new premium-heavy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners through 2029.
Airlines across the United States are trying to capture demand from the ongoing premium bonanza.
Delta, for instance, plans to increase premium seats across its fleet by 8% compared to 2025, in part by launching new aircraft. Travelers are highly anticipating the 2027 launch of its new Airbus A350-1000 planes with next-generation Delta One suites.
Likewise, United launched its new 787-9 Dreamliners this year with its refreshed Elevated Interiors, which offer 99 seats across the plane’s cabins.
The carrier is also adding its plush Polaris business class cabin to a domestic jet for the first time. The premium cabin will debut aboard United’s new Airbus A321neo “Coastliner” plane, which is set to launch later this year.
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