Energy

If you thought elbow room was getting scarce in economy class on your favorite airline, just wait a few months. There is worse to come. American Airlines recently abandoned its “More Room” promotion and added five extra seats to the economy sections of its narrow-body MD-80s, for a total of 120 passengers in the rear of the plane. The company estimates that the change will bring in $60 million per year in new revenue for the MD-80 fleet. Boeing is squeezing nine seats across into the new 787s ordered by more than half its customers, rather than the eight seats originally planned. Some airlines also are spacing the seats 30 inches apart from front to back, rather than the standard 31.