American Airlines Set to Decide on Massive Widebody Aircraft Order

American Airlines is nearing a decision on a new widebody aircraft order of up to 65 jets to replace its aging Boeing 777-200ER fleet. The airline currently operates an all-Boeing widebody fleet, but this order could represent a major shift towards Airbus.

The new aircraft are expected to arrive in the 2030s, with both Boeing and Airbus still in contention for the order. American has a relatively small widebody backlog compared to Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, making its decision significant for the industry.

The potential candidates include the Boeing 787-10, which would provide additional capacity while retaining efficiency and commonality associated with the 787 platform. The Airbus A330neo also emerges as an alternative option, offering a smaller size and potentially earlier availability compared to other widebody models.