AA Order + B787 (x47) - A350 (x22)

[Flying Fox]

AA's latest order for aircraft has made Boeing happy with +47 B787's but has also made Airbus sad with the cancellation of an existing order of 22 A350's.

The order comprises 22 787-8s scheduled to begin arriving in 2020 and 25 787-9s scheduled to begin arriving in 2023.

American Airlines orders 47 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in multi-billion dollar deal | Daily Mail Online

 

[Strategic Aviation]

47 firm plus a further 28 options.

made Airbus sad with the cancellation of an existing order

Probably not that sad as it was fully expected:-

Just about everyone saw this coming, given that they’ve deferred this order over and over.

no one expected they’d actually ever take delivery of the A350s in the first place

 

[Himeno]

The only thing surprising about this is that the people currently running AA, former US execs, are keeping with AA's love of Boeing while US had an almost entirely Airbus fleet.

After AA retired their A300s in 2002, they were entirely Boeing until 2011 when they ordered 260 A320s as they couldn't get 460 737s from Boeing in the time frame they wanted.

 

[Flying Fox]

After AA retired their A300s in 2002, they were entirely Boeing until 2011 when they ordered 260 A320s as they couldn't get 460 737s from Boeing in the time frame they wanted.

Must have been heart breaking for Boeing to be unable to supply 460x 737s in a suitable time frame!!!

Can't imagine the commission on that sale!

 

[juddles]

Airbus "Trumped" by Boeing

 

[Danger]

I wonder if there's any side deal or 'agreement' between AA the the US Government that if Boeing is preferenced, AA might see a stronger response to its claims about an unfair playing field with the ME3.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I wonder if there's any side deal or 'agreement' between AA the the US Government that if Boeing is preferenced, AA might see a stronger response to its claims about an unfair playing field with the ME3.

Highly unlikely. Delta led the campaign and was the most aggressive of the US3, but in December Delta Chooses Airbus Over Boeing in $12.7 Billion Jet Deal - Bloomberg, and in January Delta Attacks Boeing as an 'Arms Dealer' to Gulf Airlines - View from the Wing.

In any event, the nonsense appears resolved (for the time being).

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Fleets: American Airlines orders the 787-8, simplifies its fleet - CAPA Centre for Aviation

Some interesting notes:-

American will be largest 787-8 customer, and largest total 787 customer in the western hemisphere.

American Airlines' 787 order significantly grows Boeing's 787-8 backlog.

This is a mixed scenario for Boeing. Boeing would prefer to build the -9 as it is more profitable, and the -8 still incurs financial difficulties from production problems, although this is changing (see last section, below).

Boeing has seemingly been hesitant in marketing the 787-8, since from an industrial standpoint it is a very different aircraft: the 787-8 has about 30% commonality with the 787-9 while the 787-9 and 787-10 have 90% commonality with each other, according to Boeing and quoted in the Post and Courier.

Boeing plans to redesign the aft section of the 787-8. This section is home to many of the differences and inefficiencies in the -8. The new aft section should improve manufacturing costs (there is some speculation the -8 is loss-making for Boeing). The fact that Boeing is looking to improve the -8 could also signal it wants to be more competitive against the A330neo.

Coincident with Boeing's under-selling the -8, airlines have shown some reluctance to go with the smallest 787 variant. Some airlines have concluded that the -8 is too small to generate sufficient revenue; the -9 offers stronger opportunities.