American Airlines orders 42 Boeing 787s

With the future and fuel efficiency in mind, American Airlines has announced that it will be replacing aging wide-body aircraft in its fleet by the acquisition of 42 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will be delivered beginning in 2012.

American has also contracted for the right to purchase 58 additional 787s, which would be scheduled for delivery from 2015 to 2020, airline executives reported.

The carrier’s commitment to having the 787 comprise a significant part of its fleet in the future will have a positive impact on the economy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where 1,800 Spirit AeroSystems employees will fabricate composite leading edges and movable leading edges for each one of the twin-engined, 290-passenger aircraft.

An agreement between American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Association regarding the operation of the aircraft must be reached before the 787 deals are finalized.

Gerard Arpey, the chairman and CEO of AMR, American’s parent company, said the 787 purchases would help position the carrier for long-term competitiveness as it deals with the current financial realities of high fuel costs, the economic slowdown, and the depressed travel market.

The airline executive added that the deal with Boeing would make it possible for American to begin replacing its 767s with 787s, which feature 20 per cent greater fuel efficiency, and would be operated on its international routes, which currently are growing more rapidly than its domestic ones.

www.aa.com