American Airlines Drops Plan to Add Seats to Small Jets

American Airlines Group Inc. won’t try to add seats to the largest jets flown by its regional carriers, saying it’s more important for new management to build trust with pilots than to increase revenue.

The move means American will stick with planes carrying no more than 76 people, instead of increasing to the 81 seats the airline preferred, American President Scott Kirby said today in a letter to pilots. Planes with more seats must be flown by American’s mainline pilots, not its commuter partners.