Rumor: AA to place a massive order for new planes at the Paris Air Show
 

I've heard about this before but it seems more real now as more and more sources are reporting this:

<i>Boeing 787s - 100-125 firm, plus another 100 options
- Additional Boeing 777s - firm number unknown
- Boeing 737s - 100 firm, options unknown</i>

http://flightblogger.blogspot.com/

<i>As part of the deal, Boeing will award American Airlines the maintenance contract as part of the Goldcare program. The Boeing Goldcare program is intended to maintain aircraft value and minimize unexpected costs throughout the life-cycle of the 787. American Airlines just completed roughly $100 million worth of upgrades to its Tulsa maintenance facility.

If confirmed, this would be the largest single order for the Boeing 787 program.</i>

I sure hope this is true. AA has stayed out of bankruptcy, in part by not buying a lot of new equipment. Their fleet of 767's is long in the tooth, both trans continent and across the ocean.

787s and new 777s will allow them to expand their routes from hubs like JFK, DFW and ORD, and replace some older planes as well.

A lot of people said DL will place a similar-sized order for the 787 the day it came out of bankruptcy, but they didn't. So, I'll wait until confirmation.

There are other rumours that Qatar and Emirates will order 100 - 200 Airbus' therefore both Airbus and Boeing have pretty full order books for the next 5 - 6 years.

Therefore any airline ordering new aircraft now, will still have a pretty long wait until they get an available slot.

Geordie

But there are also <b>rumors</b> that AA actually have secured delivery slots for the 787s, so they don't have to wait until 201x to get them.

BTW, AA definitely needs to order new aircrafts. Their 762s doing transcon are 20+ years old, and some of the 763s running European routes are close to 20.

Some of the MD-80s are over 20+; and even some of their 757s and most of the A300s are almost 19.

They fly the oldest fleet in the country other than Aloha, and really need to replace hundreds of their planes.

BA closed at $30.67 on 5/30/03 and should go over $100/share soon.

And will American be configuring these 787's 3x3x3 instead of 2x4x2 like Boeing had recommended?

Will be glad to see the old MD80s go because some of them are really creaky-shabby. Will be sorry to see the MD80s go because we LOVE that 2-3 configuration.

Qatar Airways made a pledge for 80 A350 XWBs. This is reported in a Bloomberg article which states: Airbus has sealed only 13 firm purchase contracts compared with 567 for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which will be available in 2008, five years ahead of the Airbus model.

and besides:

<i> The order replaces a 2005 agreement for 60 planes.</i>,

so basically they upgraded by 20 more planes. It's not an 80 plane order. 60 of these have been on books for couple of years.

http://tinyurl.com/32xwo5

The signed an MOU, a pledge, with terms to be agreed by the Paris Airshow next month. That would be when they'd have a real deal, wouldn't it? Which would put Geordie's rumor right on target - as long as Qatar doesn't back out.

Production slots are fungible like NBA draft picks. My number two pick for your number 7 and 8 picks, plus a dreamliner to be named later.

Meant to add, I'll be more inclined to believe this rumor when the after-hours people at the major markets start making AMR and BA move one way or 'tother.

BA closed at $100.55 today.

Well the AA rumours didn't come to fruition at the Airbus Air Show.

Geordie