American Airlines has signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for up to 100 787-9 Dreamliners. The initial order is for 42 aircraft with rights for an additional 58.American Airlines Takes Major Fleet Renewal Step by Announcing Plans to Acquire Boeing 787-9 DreamlinersKey provision:
FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Airlines, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR), announced today that it has entered into a purchase agreement with Boeing (NYSE: BA) under which American intends to acquire an initial 42 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners scheduled for delivery beginning in 2012 and ending in 2018, with the right to purchase up to 58 additional 787s that may be scheduled for delivery beginning in 2015 and ending in 2020. The purchase of the initial 42 787-9 aircraft is subject to certain contingency provisions, as more fully described below.
The 787 purchase agreement contains provisions that would allow American to choose not to acquire some or all of the 42 initial 787s if it has not reached a satisfactory agreement with its pilots union to operate the aircraft. American must notify Boeing of its intent to purchase a 787 at least 18 months prior to its scheduled delivery date, with the first scheduled delivery date occurring in September 2012.UPDATE 12:22 PM: If all 42 787-9s taken up by American Airlines, it would make the order the largest for a North American airline. ILFC currently holds a firm order for 74 787s.
Sixteen months ago, I prematurely reported on an American Airlines order for 100 787s that was supposed to happen at the Paris Air Show. I was slightly off, but better early than never?
A September 2012 delivery would make American a very early recipient for the -9 variant of the 787. As of April, launch customer Air New Zealand was expecting its first -9 in early 2012 when Boeing last revised its delivery schedule. With the ongoing strike and potential slip of first delivery to 2010 for ANA, it remains an open question whether or not American has received a delivery timeline based on a revised schedule or the existing one which targets 25 deliveries in 2009.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Image courtesy American Airlines
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