# Adjustable Regional Aircraft Seats American Airlines Adds RECARO’s ‘R2’ to Its Embraer E175 Fleet By Adam Harrie | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-21 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/adjustable-regional-aircraft-seats References: [apex.aero](https://apex.aero/articles/american-airlines-to-introduce-recaro-r2-seats-on-embraer-e175)  American Airlines is bringing RECARO Aircraft Seating’s ‘R2’ to its Embraer E175 fleet, becoming the first U.S. carrier to use the seat on that aircraft. Designed for [short- and medium-haul passengers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/departures-seating), the ‘R2’ update is set for fall service and features a six-way headrest that makes the seating position easier to adjust. A tablet holder provides a place for personal devices, while the thinner seatback opens up knee room in the E175 cabin. American will finish the ‘R2’ in its own dress covers to match the jet’s [updated interior](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elevated-aircraft-interior) and keep regional cabins closer to its mainline look. The first U.S. use of the ‘R2’ on the E175 widens RECARO’s reach in [regional aviation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/business-class) and gives other operators a ready upgrade path for an aircraft already in service. Pre-certification and American’s entry timeline also make the seat choice an operational decision, not just a comfort-focused one. Image Credit: RECARO Aircraft Seating ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.6/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 100% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Regional Cabin Modernization:** Airlines are narrowing the comfort gap between regional and mainline fleets through upgraded seating, creating room for scalable retrofit solutions across aging aircraft. - **Personal Device Integration:** Built-in tablet holders reflect passenger reliance on personal screens, opening possibilities for lightweight cabin features that support entertainment without full embedded systems. - **Space-efficient Seat Design:** Thinner seatbacks and adjustable headrests are redefining short-haul comfort, with innovation potential in materials that improve ergonomics while preserving cabin density. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Aviation Interiors:** Seat manufacturers can differentiate through pre-certified, aircraft-specific upgrades that simplify adoption for carriers managing mixed regional fleets. - **Regional Airlines:** Fleet operators gain new ways to refresh passenger experience without replacing aircraft, making cabin retrofits a practical lever for brand consistency and operational efficiency. - **Aircraft Manufacturing:** OEMs and suppliers may benefit from closer collaboration on modular cabin components that extend aircraft lifecycle value and support faster airline customization. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Electrically Powered Airline Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/premium-economy-seat.md) - [Premium Narrow-Body Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airbus-axlr-cabin.md) - [Seasonal Lounge Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airport-lounge-menus.md) - [Airline Shared Table Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/economy-plus-shared-table.md) - [Economy Sleep Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/relax-row.md) - [Flat-Bed Cabin Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flat-bed-cabin-seats.md) - [Lie-Flat Economy Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/united-relax-row.md)