FORT WORTH, Texas---American Airlines today announced it has placed an order for 15 new GE-powered Boeing 767-300ER widebody aircraft. The 190-seat aircraft, to be delivered to American in 2002 and 2003, will further the airline's strategy of simplifying its fleet. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
Some of the new aircraft will replace TWA's nine Pratt & Whitney-powered 767s, which are not common to American's existing fleet of 79 GE-powered 767s. The remainder of the new 767 order will replace American's three-class Airbus A300-600s on North Atlantic routes, allowing American to standardize its transatlantic services on Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft.
The Airbus aircraft will be refitted with two-class interiors and deployed to serve American's Caribbean and Latin American markets missions for which the A300 is ideally suited, from both a range and cargo capacity standpoint.
"The standardization of our 767 aircraft and the simplification of our transatlantic fleet to just two aircraft types will yield tremendous efficiencies for American," said Tom Horton, American's senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer.
The redeployment of the A300s will free a number of 757 and 737 narrowbody aircraft to move into American's domestic system. Moving the smaller Boeings into the domestic system will give American added scheduling flexibility and will ultimately reduce the need to purchase additional narrowbody aircraft.
American currently operates a fleet of 719 aircraft. This year, it will take delivery of 55 new Boeing aircraft, while retiring 39 aircraft. TWA operates 178 aircraft. (ends)
