American Airlines Considers Unlikely Move: Purchasing Airbus Jets

American Airlines is in a precarious position when it comes to its long-haul fleet. With just 19 widebodies left on order, the carrier is in dire need of new jets to bolster its capacity over the ocean. The most surprising aspect of this situation is that American may be considering purchasing Airbus A330neos instead of Boeing 787s, which would be a departure from its usual preference for Boeing aircraft.

The airline's current widebody fleet consists of 67 Boeing 777s and 70 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, with its order book dwindling, American is facing a significant gap in its long-haul capacity compared to its rivals Delta and United, which have orders for 78 and 135 widebodies respectively.

One of the main advantages of the A330neo is that it is cheaper than the 787, right-sized for American's needs, and can be delivered sooner. This has led some experts to speculate that American may choose the A330neo over the 787, despite its history with Boeing aircraft.