American Airlines to Expand Storage Space

AMR Corp.’s American Airlines plans to spend $80 million to increase overhead luggage storage space on about 500 airplanes, as the carrier nears completion of a program that gives passengers more legroom. The storage space will be increased on the second-largest U.S. airline’s narrow-body jets, which account for almost 70% of its U.S. flights. The new bins will begin appearing on planes in mid-January, American said. In February, American began removing 7,200 seats in a $70-million effort to add 2 to 3 inches of legroom for coach seats on its 719 jet aircraft. All but 84 of those planes have been converted to the roomier cabin. The bigger bins will let passengers “store the most popular-size roll-aboard bags wheels first” and make it easier to get on and off the planes, the Fort Worth-based carrier said. The current size limit on bags carried aboard planes will remain in place. AMR shares fell 38 cents to close at $33.81 on the NYSE.