FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) appears increasingly likely to place a new wide-body aircraft order in the near future, as the carrier looks to rebuild a long-haul fleet that has fallen behind its main rivals. Industry sources suggest the order could go to either Airbus or Boeing, which is a notable shift for a carrier most observers expected to stay loyal to Boeing.
While many assume American would simply expand its Boeing 787 fleet, analysts believe the Airbus A330-900neo could emerge as a surprise choice. The airline, which operates major hubs including Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), trails both Delta Air Lines (DL) and United Airlines (UA) in wide-body orders, making fresh commitments a growing priority.
Why American Airlines Needs New Wide Body Jets?
Among the three largest US carriers, American holds the weakest long haul network, particularly once Latin America is set aside. The airline tends to focus on joint venture markets, Latin American routes, and seasonal summer flying to Europe.
Several earlier decisions contributed to this position. American retired its Boeing 757s, Boeing 767s, and Airbus A330s early, and analysts point to an over-reliance on domestic flying as part of a broader strategy that did not deliver lasting results.
The current wide-body fleet includes 67 Boeing 777s, made up of 47 Boeing 777-200ERs and 20 Boeing 777-300ERs, along with 70 Boeing 787s, split between 37 Boeing 787-8s and 33 Boeing 787-9s. The remaining order book contains just 19 Boeing 787-9s, which is a modest figure for a carrier of American’s size.
How American Compares to Delta and United
The gap becomes clear when measured against competitors. Delta has 78 wide body planes on order, while United carries a striking backlog of 135 wide body aircraft, OMAAT reported.
American therefore, risks falling further behind, especially because new aircraft require significant lead time before delivery.
The latest rumor, shared by industry source JonNYC, indicates American may place a new wide-body order soon, with either Airbus or Boeing in contention. The possibility of an Airbus order stands out, since most observers expected American to continue with Boeing.
The Aircraft Options on the Table
Four wide-body families are available: the Airbus A330neo, the Airbus A350, the Boeing 777X, and the Boeing 787. American executives have repeatedly stated that they do not want very high-capacity long-haul aircraft, which narrows the field.
The Boeing 777X looks unlikely, as the aircraft is not yet certified and offers more capacity than American wants. The Airbus A350 also appears improbable, because both variants are larger than American’s Boeing 787-9s, the aircraft carries a high price, and demand for it remains strong.
That leaves the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A330neo. The logical path would be further 787 orders, possibly including the Boeing 787-10, the largest variant. That model offers higher capacity, strong fuel efficiency, and attractive per-seat economics, and it could eventually help replace American’s aging Boeing 777-300ERs.
Why the Airbus A330neo Could Win
The Boeing 787 carries two drawbacks: a high price and a long wait for delivery. As an example, Delta recently ordered the Boeing 787-10, with its first delivery scheduled only for 2031.
This is where the Airbus A330-900neo becomes relevant. Compared with the 787, the aircraft is somewhat cheaper, slightly smaller, and available with a shorter lead time. Those traits make it a reasonable fit for American’s current strategy, even if it seems an unexpected pick.
American’s fleet history adds context to this debate. The airline retired its entire former US Airways A330 fleet at the start of the pandemic, despite many of those aircraft being relatively new. American chose not to bring them back, and the jets are now being acquired by Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways.
A Costly Long Haul Strategy
American holds the youngest fleet among the three largest US carriers, yet the onboard experience does not always reflect that.
Much of the airline’s spending has gone toward new airframes and engines rather than passenger experience, even as the carrier carries substantial debt.
For now, the situation remains developing. The most probable outcomes are either a Boeing 787-10 order or an Airbus A330-900neo order, with the latter standing out as the genuine wild card.
Bottom Line
American Airlines is reportedly close to a new wide-body aircraft order, a move that reflects its thin order book and weakened long-haul position. Reports suggest the deal could go to either Airbus or Boeing, making the decision more intriguing than many expected.
An order for a Boeing 777X or an Airbus A350 looks highly unlikely given their size and cost. While additional Boeing 787 orders would follow conventional logic, the Airbus A330-900neo stands out as a plausible alternative that aligns with American’s availability needs and cost priorities.
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