American’s Next Order: Airbus or Boeing?

American Airlines’ next fleet investment will be for new widebody aircraft to replace 47 ageing Boeing 777-200ERs. CEO Robert Isom said during an online annual shareholder meeting on June 10 that his airline has issued a request for proposals to Airbus and Boeing.

“We are making several long-term investments. One example is the work we are doing right now to shape the future of our widebody fleet. We currently have an RFP in the market and are actively engaging with Airbus and Boeing as we evaluate our next order for widebody aircraft”, Isom said.

American made decisions on its narrowbody fleet in 2024, resulting in firm orders for 260 aircraft and options for another 193 from Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer. “We currently have 19 widebody aircraft on order, with options on 28 more.” These are all Boeing 787-9s that are part of a firm order for 30 placed in April 2018, when the carrier also ordered 17 787-8s.

With the 47 777-200ERs at an average age of 25.5 years old and Boeing and Airbus having limited slots available, American doesn’t want to wait any longer. “Giving the long lead times associated with widebody deliveries, and expected 777 retirements in the 2030s, now is the right time to define what comes next as we continue to expand and modernise our international capable fleet”, Isom explained. The 20 777-300ERs are on average 12.4 years old and could stay at least for another decade.

Given the substantial number of 787s in the fleet (37 -8s and 33 -9s), the Dreamliner seems to have a clear advantage when it comes to commonality and standardisation. Boeing will be eager to keep this monopoly, which it has since American retired all Airbus A330s during the pandemic in 2020. The 777-8 and -9 seem too big to replace the -200ERs, which makes the Dreamliner the obvious candidate.

Order momentum gives Boeing a headstart, having won 111 gross orders for the 787-9 and -10 this year and 381 in 2025. But Airbus will also fight hard to win over American as a new widebody customer with either the A330-900 or the A350-900. With 486 Airbus narrowbodies in the fleet and 149 A321neos/-XLRs on order, American and Airbus surely know how to do business.

Views: 0

About The Author

Richard Schuurman

Richard Schuurman is a freelance aviation reporter since 2016 and covers commercial aviation and the aerospace industry. He has contributed before to AirInsight between 2018-2024.

See Full Bio