I thought we would be first on the block with the -300s.


American Airlines Orders Two New Boeing 777-300ER Widebody Jets to Support Network Strategy and International Growth
American Continues to Invest in Products to Enhance the Customer Experience


Press Release Source: AMR Corporation On Wednesday January 19, 2011, 8:50 am EST
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMR Corp., today announced it has entered into a purchase agreement with the Boeing Company under which American will acquire two Boeing 777-300ERs to support its global network strategy and to capitalize on international growth opportunities. The two aircraft are expected to be delivered in late 2012.

"These additional widebody aircraft will bolster our network strategy, particularly the international growth opportunities we expect from our joint businesses with oneworld® partners in the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific markets," said Tom Horton, President, AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle. "We value the combination of size, range and performance of the 777-300ER, as well as the extensive customer amenities it offers. The seating capability of the aircraft will give us growth flexibility in slot-constrained airports and provide us with greater ability to serve new long-haul markets."

"American Airlines is an industry leader whose vision and disciplined approach to growth has made it one of the largest airlines in the world," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh. "American is the first carrier in the United States to order the 777-300ER. These new airplanes will complement their large fleet of 777-200ERs by offering additional flexibility in serving nonstop routes while providing increased efficiency and reliability."

Additional terms of the commitment were not disclosed.

"We hope that this positive step for our airline signals the beginning of a period of domestic and global expansion which will allow our airline to aggressively compete and prosper in the years to come," said Captain David Bates, President of the Allied Pilots Association, the union that represents American's 8,600 pilots.

From 2007 through 2010, American has invested $4.2 billion in aircraft, cabin, and facility improvements to enhance the customer experience.

International Growth Opportunities

The 777-300ERS will expand international service, either incremental frequencies in markets American serves today, or new routes largely resulting from its alliance initiatives.

As part of their recently launched trans-Atlantic business, oneworld members American, British Airways and Iberia announced service on five additional international routes, beginning in spring 2011. They are: New York JFK-Budapest and Chicago-Helsinki (operated by American Airlines), London Heathrow-San Diego (operated by British Airways), plus Madrid-Los Angeles and Barcelona-Miami (operated by Iberia). Also in spring 2011, American will add additional frequencies from New York JFK to Barcelona and Miami to Madrid.

On Jan. 11, American Airlines and Japan Airlines announced the launch of their trans-Pacific joint business. Customers can expect to benefit from better flight schedules, expanded codesharing, more coordinated services, and greater access to a wider variety of fares. Additional consumer benefits over the coming months are anticipated as the cooperation level deepens between the two airlines. Additionally, American plans to start its new nonstop daily service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tokyo's Haneda International Airport next month, and to launch service from Los Angeles to Shanghai, China, in April. Japan Airlines began service from Haneda to San Francisco in late October. The carriers have already begun, or plan, to codeshare on these flights.

The trans-Atlantic joint business opportunity, initially representing approximately $7 billion in combined revenue between the carriers, will offer seamless service to 430 destinations in 105 countries, with nearly 5,200 daily departures worldwide. The trans-Pacific joint business, which represents more than $1.5 billion in combined revenue between the two airlines, represents significant growth opportunities for American long term as the Pacific region currently accounts for only about 4 percent of American's total system capacity.

American also continued to grow its service in Latin America in 2010. Last year, it began service from New York's JFK to San Jose, Costa Rica, and to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Dallas/Fort Worth to San Salvador, El Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It also began service from Miami to Brazil's capital, Brasilia. American is Latin America and Mexico's premier airline with 43 destinations to 17 countries.

"We believe it is important to grow but to do so sensibly, in the right places and, importantly, under the right economic circumstances," Horton said. "Our purchase of additional 777s, our first growth aircraft since 2001, further demonstrates that philosophy and we will continue to look for growth opportunities that make the most sense for our customers, shareholders and employees."

1234,

You can't infer tone from a post. I think it's merely accurate to say that the arguments that either side likes to hang on to regarding the merger or the SLI are not going to work on the other side, even if they are legitimate. Everyone likes to believe their airline was the best before the merger, and I see no value in toying with those sentiments.

When I say "I don't care who had the better contract", I'm not saying "All NW pilots are [deleted] and I don't care about their opinion", but I am saying that I don't care about discussions that are guaranteed to fail to get us moving forward on a better contract.

I'm interested in the discussions about the contract, and especially those about our next contract, and beyond that I think everyone can be proud of their past, and leave it at that. Make sense?

I was trying to find the memo on Deltanet, but no luck. Anyways, I'm certain it's everywhere.

disregard... already answered

Absolutely makes sense and I couldn't agree more. I think there is a lot of merit to look at other contracts to find those golden nuggets. I don't want that to lead to the infamous "well, my company is better or my dad will beat up your dad" type of pointless arguments. The merger is done, we all have a past but we are all currently Delta pilots. I am proud of that fact because I believe we work for a very strong company on that has the ability to do many great things over my career.

It is everywhere in Mexico, but I heard (from F/A's) that MEX is the only one enforcing it. I do a lot of CUN and GDL layovers and haven't ever had a problem with liquid and/or gels. They just give me the international "move along" signal.

It was on the left side of the Flight Operations home page, right below the hotlinks to Icrew etc. It is below the IROP memo. If I recall it is the Mexico Travel Advisory. If it not longer there, click on more. If that does not work, look on the bottom of the page under general advisories.

You are correct, though, it is a Nationwide ban on liquids over 3.5 oz. Crews included.

Excellent post T.

Delta Chief Impressed by GTF powered A320neo and Cseries

Fresh from issuing a request for proposal (RFP) to manufacturers for up to 200 narrowbody replacement aircraft, Delta Air Lines management appears impressed with both the re-engined A320neo and the Bombardier CSeries.

Carrier chief executive Richard Anderson during the carrier's fourth quarter earnings call specifically labelled the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G series geared turbofan (GTF) powerplant as a "viable engine", and highlighted the roughly 20% improvement in fuel efficiency the engine should deliver.

Citing oil prices around $95 per barrel, Anderson states the GTF's fuel efficiency projection is "significant".

While Boeing has not stated its intentions for a re-engined or clean-sheet 737, Anderson explains that in the negotiations regarding the RFP Boeing will need to "match the numbers" of the aircraft powered by the GTF.

Delta also plans to retire about 100 aircraft during the next 18 months, the carrier states, largely comprising 50-seat regional jets, Saab 340 turboprops and DC9s.

Bombardier's CSeries on Delta's Radar

Is it just me... rhetorical question... or at this very pivotal point in the airline industry Boeing is not offering a product carriers want and Airbus subsequently is making a small adjustment while Bombardier (and possibly Embraer at some point) are offering something to muddy up the efficiency waters.

Maybe we're going back to the days of DC jets, Boeing jets, Fokkers, Airbus and whoever else made it so that airlines had multiple fleet types and not just the few types as possible mantra that caught on and died pre DAL/NWA meger and CAL/UAL merger.