AAflyer

Blowing the Top Off of Paris - Massive Order for American Airlines

UNCONFIRMED BY OFFICIAL SOURCES

Reliable sources inside the aviation industry have told Flightblogger that American Airlines intends to place a "massive" narrow and wide-body order at the Paris Air Show that includes:

- Boeing 787s - 100-125 firm, plus another 100 options
- Additional Boeing 777s - firm number unknown
- Boeing 737s - 100 firm, options unknown

This reasoning behind this order makes sense for the long term growth and modernization for American Airlines. The Boeing 787 fills an important place in the American fleet as older model Airbus A300s and Boeing 767s are retired. American currently operates a fleet of 34 A300s that range from 19 to 14 years old, as well as 73 767s. American has already announced that they will be retiring their non-ER 767-200s which range from 22 to 25 years old. The fleet of 299 McDonnell Douglas MD-82/83 are set to be retired beginning in 2009. The oldest is 24 years old. These aircraft have already been slated for replacement by Boeing 737-800s.

The deal, following completed retirement of the McDonnell Douglas and Airbus fleets, will result in American Airlines becoming an all Boeing fleet, as well as consolidating eight aircraft types to just six. American currently operates the worlds largest fleet of aircraft.

As part of the deal, Boeing will award American Airlines the maintenance contract as part of the Goldcare program. The Boeing Goldcare program is intended to maintain aircraft value and minimize unexpected costs throughout the life-cycle of the 787. American Airlines just completed roughly $100 million worth of upgrades to its Tulsa maintenance facility.

If confirmed, this would be the largest single order for the Boeing 787 program. The details of this order are unconfirmed by official sources, but have been corroborated by sources within the aviation industry. The deal is expected to be officially announced at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Field from June 18-24.

Posted by Jonathan at

RockBottom

Why did AA wait this long? These aircraft won't hit property for another 6-10 years.

AAflyer

I hae no idea, however through a leasing company we could some of those 787s a lot earlier. If DAL also places a large order of 787 Beoing may very well open another 787 line.

AA

757Driver

That's what were hearing at CAL and along with AA being granted first in line for the new production unit.

AAflyer

Good to hear it from another source, thanks. Would love to have AA start growing and recalling and hiring like CAL.

Cheers,

AA

Flyby1206

AMR and Boeing have some very tight ties. The last press release issued in reference to changing the delivery dates of the existing 737 orders stated that they could receive new aircraft in as little as 15 months. 787s were specifically mentioned.

av8r4aa

Mean while........for the next decade while we
wait for the rivet beaters to finish, we will still
have the oldest fleet in the business.

Hope the old girl stays together for a while

Mink

Not to rain on the parade, but I wonder if this is some sort of distractor AMR is throwing out there to keep the focus off the upcoming pilot contract negotiations? After all, how can they even think of paying pilots more and bringing us furloughed guys back when they are so busy buying shiny new jets (and paying executives top $$)?

B757200ER

Yada, Yada...wait until Paris. Then opine.

tone

That would be an expensive decoy.