FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) confirmed it plans to order new widebody aircraft, with CEO Robert Isom telling the airline’s annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) that the carrier “has an RFP in the market” with both Airbus and Boeing for its next long-haul order.
The airline currently flies most long-haul routes outside South America to partner hubs such as London Heathrow (LHR), Tokyo (HND), and Sydney (SYD), while leaning on a domestic network anchored at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). Isom framed the move as long-term fleet planning rather than an urgent need, even as the gap in American’s international fleet grows, View from the Wing exclusively reported.
American Airlines CEO Confirms New Widebody Order
Isom said American has 19 widebodies on order and holds options for 28 more. He added that the airline expects to retire its Boeing 777s in the 2030s, which sets the timeline for replacement aircraft.
The CEO downplayed the urgency, explaining that aircraft acquisition involves long lead times that require early planning.
He pointed out that American has already completed its narrowbody fleet planning, leaving widebodies as the next focus.
Why The Need Is More Urgent Than Stated
American retired 40% of its long haul fleet during the pandemic. That decision turned the carrier into a primarily domestic airline, with international flying outside South America concentrated on partner hubs plus seasonal summer service to Europe.
The airline last ordered widebody aircraft eight years ago, when it committed to the Boeing 787. It has even deferred delivery of some Boeing 787-9s from that order.
American also gave up all of its Airbus A330s during the retirement wave, removing a long haul type from its fleet entirely.
Unlike Delta and United, which also hold international partnerships, American depends more heavily on partner airlines to carry its customers across the globe. That reliance, combined with aging widebodies, makes a fresh order more pressing than the shareholder meeting suggested.
Narrowbody Planning Already Complete
Two years ago, American placed an order for 260 narrowbody aircraft. The order included 85 Airbus A321neos, 85 Boeing 737 MAX 10s, and 90 Embraer E175 regional jets. The airline also secured options on 193 additional aircraft.
With narrowbody needs settled, the widebody decision now stands as the major open item in American’s fleet strategy.
Network Strategy Favors Domestic Frequencies
Brian Znotins, who leads network planning at American, has stated a preference for domestic flying over international routes. He has also favored adding a second daily frequency to some destinations using two smaller aircraft rather than a single larger one.
Znotins explained that a sixth daily trip from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Indianapolis (IND) earns reliable profit, while a speculative European or Asian route may not attract enough demand. This thinking shaped Americans’ earlier caution on large aircraft.
The Airbus A321XLR was meant to support a “small ball” long-haul strategy by flying thinner routes. American has since cut that order from 50 to 40 aircraft, partly because the jet does not deliver the range originally promised.
A Shift Toward Premium Global Positioning
American no longer treats Frontier Airlines (F9) and Spirit Airlines (NK) as its primary competition. The carrier is repositioning itself as a premium global airline, a goal that requires more long haul aircraft.
Industry reporting suggests the Airbus A330-900 is a plausible candidate, mainly because it could offer earlier delivery slots. That outcome would carry some irony, since American eliminated Airbus widebodies for fleet simplicity and retired all of its A330s. A different leadership team and a recognition that the earlier strategy underperformed have reopened the door.
Isom has previously said the Boeing 787-10 was not a good fit for American, though the terms of an actual deal can shift that view. Both Airbus and Boeing carry large order backlogs, but Isom has argued that American is an important enough customer for manufacturers to find available delivery slots.
The confirmation aligns with widespread expectations and earlier leaks that American would eventually commit to a new widebody order.
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