American is placing its bets on Boeing, announcing a new order on Monday for 260 new narrowbody aircraft. The Fort Worth-based airline’s latest order includes a combination of Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft.
The order includes 85 Airbus A321neo and 85 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft along with 90 Embraer E175 regional jets. According to the carrier, the orders also include options for up to 193 additional aircraft.
As part of the announcement, American converted 30 planned 737 MAX 8 orders to the MAX 10. Despite being plagued by certification delays, it is the largest 737 variant to date. The conversion brings the airline’s total commitment for the MAX 10 to 115 aircraft with 75 purchase options for the type.
“We absolutely take current events into consideration as we’re going through our analysis of this order,” American’s Chief Financial Officer Devon May told Reuters in January. He said the airline considered different options from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer as part of the deal.
American has 440 aircraft on order with the carrier’s orderbook now extending into the next decade. In a press release, the airline said it is “planning for the future with the new order of 737 MAX 10s and looks forward to certification of the aircraft.”
Boeing Confidence
On a Q4 2023 earnings call in January, American’s CEO Robert Isom sharply rebuked Boeing, saying the manufacturer “needs to get their act together.”
“The issues that they’ve been dealing with over the recent period of time, but also going back a number of years now, is unacceptable,” Isom added during the call. “And no matter who it is, all of Boeing needs to come together and to get back on the right track.”
American has faced numerous 787 and 737 MAX delivery delays. In 2024, the airline expects to receive 20 737 MAX 8, six 787-9, and two A321neo aircraft, May shared during the January earnings call.
