Daily Press

American’s order for 260 jets goes to 3 firms

- By David Koenig

DALLAS — American Airlines announced a large order Monday for new planes, splitting 260 aircraft among Boeing, Airbus and Embraer in a move designed to meet growing travel demand and increase the airline’s supply of premium seats.

American said it placed options for up to 193 more planes over the next several years.

The airline and aircraft-makers did not disclose financial terms for the orders.

The package of orders includes 85 Boeing 737 Max 10s — a larger version of the Max that has not yet been certified by U.S. regulators.

The plane is already years behind schedule, and United Airlines — which has 100 on order — is planning as if it will never receive the planes, according to its CEO.

Boeing is under intense scrutiny by the Federal Aviation Administra­tion to fix problems in its manufactur­ing system, particular­ly since a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in midflight in January.

American gave the U.S. plane-maker a vote of confidence, however, even converting a previous order for 30 Max 8s to the Max 10s.

It also ordered 85 A321neo planes from Airbus, Boeing’s European rival. The A321 and Max 10 are about the same size.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline also ordered 90 smaller E175 aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer.

The planes are all single-aisle, so-called narrow-body aircraft that American will use for flights within the United States and to nearby internatio­nal destinatio­ns. In a presentati­on for analysts Monday, American called its short-haul network “the foundation of value for customers and investors.”

American CEO Robert Isom said the airline has invested heavily in the past decade — more than 600 planes, including those used by its regional affiliates — to modernize and simplify its fleet, which is already the largest among U.S. carriers.

The announceme­nt means that American now has orders for 440 planes, some of which aren’t scheduled to be delivered until the next decade.

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