American Airlines Weighs Airbus vs Boeing for Widebody Fleet

American Airlines has narrowed its widebody aircraft decision down to two options: the Airbus A330-900neo and the Boeing 787-10. The decision aims to replace the airline's 47 aging Boeing 777-200ERs starting in the 2030s, according to reports.

Nat Pieper, American Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, described the selection process as 'the seventh or eighth inning,' indicating that a decision is near but still uncertain. He noted that the outcome could go either way.

Airbus' A330-900neo was considered in detail last year against the Boeing 787-9, but this comparison is different due to the -10 being a distinct aircraft with its own trade-offs. The fact that American Airlines is considering the A330-900neo suggests that Boeing's deal may be at risk.

The analysis of the trade-offs between the two aircraft highlights the importance of the decision for both Airbus and Boeing. While some experts believe the deal favors Boeing, others argue that American Airlines can play a pricing game to secure the best terms.