American Touts Plan for More Legroom

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines said it will create more legroom for its passengers by removing two rows of seats in every aircraft in its fleet. Chairman Don Carty said the move was prompted by congressional concerns over passenger complaints, and he promised more changes to show that legislation is not needed to address such complaints. American will be restoring legroom space to what it was on most airlines before the industry was deregulated more than 20 years ago. UAL Corp.’s United Airlines said last year that it would take similar action but that it would increase the legroom only in the first 11 rows of the coach section. Carty sidestepped the question of what effect the new configuration might have on fares. American hopes to have its domestic fleet converted by summer and to start the conversion of aircraft on its international flights in the fall.