American Airlines Expected To Announce Game-Changing Aircraft Order March 4, Eyeing Airbus A350s
American Airlines is working on an order for new planes. However it may not just be for narrowbody planes as I and others have reported.
There’s discussion of a widebody order potentially as well – even for the Airbus A350 as a replacement for aging Boeing 777-200s. An announcement, at least for new smaller planes, may come as soon as March 4 which is the airline’s upcoming Investor Day as noted by aviation watchdog JonNYC.
American Airlines A321
I’ve expected a new aircraft order. In fact, I was first to report that American is considering a narrowbody order. CEO Robert Isom told employees in July, “We’re going to need aircraft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point we make a commitment to some narrowbody aircraft as we get past 2027.”
I have not been expecting a widebody aircraft order. They’ve deferred delivery of several of the Boeing 787-9s that they already have on order.
.. offer incentives etc. Additionally, widebody order expected as well but may not be announced at this time. Apparently strongly looking at the A350 as a 777-200 replacement, as they don’t want to have all their eggs in the 787 basket.
R U M O R
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) February 24, 2024
While (like everyone else) American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has been unhappy with Boeing I still expect they’ll get a better deal from Boeing on MAX aircraft to replace older Airbus A319, A320, and some 737-800 aircraft. Delivery slots would be harder to come by for Airbus, though American has suggested that for an airline their size airframe manufacturers will figure it out.
As far as widebodies, adding the A350 to the fleet would be a complete reversal of the airline’s strategy over the past 7 years as they’ve tried to reduce the diversity of their operation.
American Airlines retired too many aircraft during the pandemic. At least there was demand for the carrier’s Boeing 767s as freighters. Northern Pacific wanted some 757s. They were even still paying leases on Airbus A330s.
- With so many planes off the table, they were unable to take advantage of last year’s travel boom to Europe that fueled profits at Delta and United
- However, they argued that they positioned themselves well for the future by simplifying their widebody fleet – all Boeing, all 787/777.
American Airlines Boeing 787
It would be surreal for the airline, which cancelled its order for the A350 inherited from US Airways in spring 2018, to grow its widebody fleet by adding the complexity of this new aircraft type. On the other hand, American does already have an A350 simulator.
The airline has also talked down a 787-10 as a replacement for its Boeing 777-300ERs. But the A350 would presumably be opening up destinations that American has been loathe to fly to, doesn’t think would be profitable for them, and would likely require a shift in route strategy.
