American Airlines Pilot Trains on 777X, Fueling Speculation of Potential Order

An American Airlines Boeing 777 pilot recently trained on and flew the new Boeing 777X at the manufacturer's training center in England. The pilot, who wishes to remain anonymous, posted about the experience on social media, stating it was a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity.

The post has sparked speculation that American Airlines may be considering ordering the 777X, despite initial assumptions that this would not happen due to the plane's size and the airline's hub strategy. The pilot also mentioned that the plane will likely arrive after she retires, which could indicate an order for the 2030s.

Airline experts point out that it's common for airlines to send pilots to train on new aircraft before ordering them, but this instance is notable because of the pilot's comments about the plane joining American's fleet. Boeing would likely be eager to secure a US customer for the 777X and could offer favorable terms to American Airlines.