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American Airlines Places Order for 460 Narrowbody Planes from Boeing & Airbus

Good morning!

We wanted to take a minute to share some exciting news with you! As many of you have already speculated, American Airlines has placed an order for 460 narrowbody planes from Boeing & Airbus. This marks the largest aircraft purchase in history, and we’re excited to start serving you aboard the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among our US airline peers within approximately the next five years.

We’ll be livestreaming the press conference with CEO Gerard Arpey at 10am CT on the American Airlines Facebook page. Be sure to join us here: http://on.fb.me/AASTREAM

For the full press release, click here: http://bit.ly/AAFLEET1

MODERATOR NOTE

ty97 posted some essentials in the speculation thread, reproduced here for members:

Press Release:

http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3284

Quote:

AMR Corporation Announces Landmark Fleet Agreements with Boeing and Airbus to Transform American's Narrowbody Fleet

AMR today announced landmark agreements with Boeing and Airbus that will enable it to transform American's narrowbody fleet. These new aircraft will allow American to reduce its operating and fuel costs and deliver a broad range of state-of-the-art amenities to customers, while maximizing the Company's financial flexibility.

Under the new agreements, American will acquire 460 narrowbody aircraft from the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families beginning in 2013 -- the largest aircraft order in aviation history. As part of these agreements, starting in 2017 American will become the first U.S. network airline to begin taking delivery of "next generation" narrowbody aircraft that will further accelerate fuel-efficiency gains.

These new deliveries are expected to pave the way for American to have the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among its U.S. airline peers in approximately five years. American also will benefit from approximately $13 billion of committed financing from the manufacturers through lease transactions that will help maximize balance sheet flexibility and reduce risk. The financing fully covers the first 230 deliveries. (AMR provided additional details in a separate news release issued this morning. Please refer to that release for more details).

In addition, American now has eight Boeing 777-300ERs that are scheduled for delivery in 2012 and 2013, including three additional aircraft for which options were recently exercised. These 777-300ERs will complement American's fleet, offering additional network flexibility, and providing increased efficiency due to better seat mile economics and performance characteristics.

Quote:

So we might even see A319 in the fleet

Phil on CNBC is visibly excited about this one. Confirmed 260 A320neos and 200 737NGs with 465 firm options (split between the two). Delivery between 2013 and 2022.

The NG includes multiple variants right? Not just the -800?

I can't believe that AA is taking delivery of 260 320s, equally split between the current model beginning in 2013 and the NEO three years later. How will AA address the issue of its aging 767-300 fleet with this order? How much further can the oldest 767-300s continue to fly as a number of these aircraft are approaching the highest time 767s? I just did a 767-300 transcon a few days ago to SFO and the Purser was telling me that the plane we had had almost 97,000 hours on the airframe.

The number is staggering... Especially the AAirbus options...365...that is very large number of options...and the total is more than 300 the expected order quantity.

This release has more details on the plane order:
http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3286

Quote:

Under the agreement with Boeing, American plans to acquire a total of 200 additional aircraft from the 737 family, with options for another 100 737 family aircraft. American has the flexibility to convert the new deliveries into variants within the 737 family, including the 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900ER.

As part of the Boeing agreement, American will take delivery of 100 aircraft from Boeing's current 737NG family starting in 2013, including three 737-800 options that had been exercised as of July 1, 2011. American also intends to order 100 of Boeing's expected new evolution of the 737NG, with a new engine that would offer even more significant fuel-efficiency gains over today's models. American is pleased to be the first airline to commit to Boeing's new 737 family offering, which is expected to provide a new level of economic efficiency and operational performance, pending final confirmation of the program by Boeing. This airplane would be powered by CFM International's LEAP-X engine.

From the wording I'm guessing this means in addition to the current 738 orders? Anyway, onto the Airbuses:

Quote:

American also will acquire a total of 260 Airbus aircraft from the A320 Family and will have 365 options and purchase rights for additional aircraft. American has the flexibility to convert its delivery positions into variants within the A320 Family, including the A319 and A321.

American will take delivery of 130 current-generation Airbus A320 Family aircraft beginning in 2013. Beginning in 2017 American will begin taking delivery of 130 aircraft from the A320neo (New Engine Option) Family featuring next-generation engine technology. The new aircraft are approximately 15 percent more fuel efficient than today's models. American will be the first network airline in the U.S. to deploy this new-technology aircraft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JALPak (Post 16761807)

So we might even see A319 in the fleet

What I do not understand is why AA restricts its Boeing model change options to "other models in the 737 family". Since the deliveries are spread out until 2022, the order could be used to secure positions in the yet unlaunched new Boeing narrowbody future program (made unavoidable by the success of the A320 "NEO" program).

Given AA's traditional commitment to Boeing, this order contains a lot of unsaid threats to Boeing in case they do not act quickly. Of course, it may all lie in the future use of options after the initial orders. It may also be the topic of future negotiations when the next Boeing program is clarified

Quote:

Originally Posted by Life_Platinum (Post 16761827)

Isn't 787 the replacement for 767?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cofyknsult (Post 16761851)

In the common vernacular, Boeing's (potential) new aircraft is referred to as the 737 replacement product. I would hope the '737 family' wording would allow for switching to this product (whatever its finally name may be), but that would depend on how exactly Boeing and AA worded the contract.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sts603 (Post 16761811)

Actually the order is split as followed:

100 Boeing 737NG's
100 Boeing 737RE's
100 Boeing 737NG & 737RE options
7 Boeing 777-200ER's

130 Airbus A320series
130 Airbus A320NEO series
365 Airbus A320 & A320NEO series options

All concerning the "family" and thus including 737-700/800/900 and Airbus A318/A319/A320 & A321

Very disappointed in American for the decision to move 1/2 the order to Airbus. :td:

They might as well change the name while they're at it. Calling themselves "American" while they put Americans out of work is a slap in the face on top of a shiv in the American people's back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Matador (Post 16761898)

Very disappointed in American for the decision to move 1/2 the order to Airbus. :td:

Do you apply the same standards to the European airlines with Boeing fleets ? :confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobo411 (Post 16761900)

They might as well change the name while they're at it. Calling themselves "American" while they put Americans out of work is a slap in the face on top of a shiv in the American people's back.

Lobo411 - we understand your concern, however as we are operating in a global economy, this investment makes the most sense for our airline and is in the best interest of our employees and customers. We are very proud of our heritage and home in the U.S.