American Airlines Orders Up to 65 Widebody Jets in Decade-Long Campaign

American Airlines is in the process of ordering up to 65 widebody jets for delivery in the 2030s, according to CEO Robert Isom. This would replace its current fleet of 47 Boeing 777-200ERs and add new capacity to its network.

The airline retired about 40% of its long-haul-capable fleet during the pandemic, which has left it scrambling to meet demand. The order for up to 65 planes is a significant development, but it's unclear how many will be firm orders versus options.

American currently operates an all-Boeing widebody fleet, with 20 777-300ERs, 37 787-8s, and 33 787-9s. However, Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper says that the competition between Boeing and Airbus is 'going either way' and that there's no stigma inside American about returning to Airbus widebodies.

Pieper has a history of ordering Airbus planes, having orchestrated nine multibillion-dollar aircraft campaigns at Delta during his time as vice president of fleet strategy and transactions. He acknowledges that Boeing gets points for fleet commonality, but suggests that Airbus can make up for it economically by selling planes cheaply.