Two of the three, JetBlue and Delta, offer seatback screens on most flights, which are not just for watching free movies, but for other forms of entertainment including — depending on the flight — browsing digital magazines, following guided meditations and more.

In 2026, many full-service global airlines continue to invest heavily in seatback In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems, despite the rise of personal device streaming. Delta Air Lines is a leader in this space, having committed to keeping screens on nearly its entire mainline fleet, including domestic aircraft. Similarly, United Airlines is in the middle of a massive "United Next" retrofit, adding 4K seatback screens to hundreds of its narrow-body planes. Internationally, Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways are famous for their "ICE" and "Oryx" systems, which offer thousands of movies on large, high-definition displays even in economy. Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Cathay Pacific also provide robust seatback systems on almost all long-haul routes. While some budget carriers and certain short-haul European airlines have removed screens to save weight and fuel, these premium and legacy carriers view the "seatback TV" as a core part of the passenger experience, often integrating it with Bluetooth audio and live flight tracking. For travelers, having a dedicated screen means saving their own device's battery and enjoying a more cinematic experience during long transoceanic journeys.