Originally Posted by
Flyby1206
AMR gets what AMR wants. If they wanted 22 CRJs on the property tomorrow it could be done. How many hundreds of millions did AMR get for leasing back the P.O.S ATRs to some Norweigan investors? AMR just raised
$276 million through a private debt sale as well.
As bailee said, AMR is waiting to see what happens with scope. If APA allows 76 seaters at Eagle then I bet we see those 22 CRJ options tossed in the trash and money spent on an E170 fleet. If APA doesn't budge on scope, then AMR can always go and get 22 more CRJ700s for Eagle without any arguments.
It doesn't matter how/why/what the details of the 22 CRJ options are. AMR gets what AMR wants, even if the details are shAAdy.
The "E-JET" may not be the frontrunner. AMR (and thus Eagle) is a "bottom line" company. Although the E-JETS are more comfortable, AMR has disregarded passenger comfort and appeal for the almighty buck before and they'll do it again at the drop of a hat. One example was the "more room throughout coach" idea, which was a hit with passengers but unpopular with the accountants, so AA went back to the "less room throughout coach" plan of the past and shafted the customer.
The CRJ-900 has fleet commonality with the current CRJ-700 and crew and MTX cost synergies are compelling. Operationally, it can carry those 76-pax cheaper then the heavier and more thirsty E-175. Financing is a wild card, but for a decent order Bombardier may be willing to be more competitive then in the past, even going so far as trade-in credit for smaller EMJ's, so don't discount the CRJ-900 as it may be the secret frontrunner. The reason that AMR's proposal had a weight limit that was exactly at that of the E-175 was to inusure competition in bidding. If they had not at least included that weight and aircraft, it would have left only one possible aircraft (CRJ-900) and given excessive leverage to Bombardier to bend AMR over on any deal.
It is also a POSSIBILITY that the APA may be eventually more willing to accept a CRJ aircraft then an E-JET, as the CRJ is more easily considered "still" an RJ, wheras the E-JET class of aircraft offers a different perception. AMR hasn't yet boxed itself in any one corner and still needs time to both align their ducks and get a better handle of the competitive landscape (and survivors) to see what the best move will be.
Both AMR and Eagle can wait until next summer before any moves are made and this is the most likely scenario.