AA Orders B787s
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 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.
This news release is interesting in that AA must have had the line positions held for a number of years for a 2012 delivery.