Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

American Airlines Orders 260 Narrow-Body Aircraft

Nick Ellis's image
Nick Ellis
Nick Ellis's image

Nick Ellis

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

176 Published Articles 817 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 35U.S. States Visited: 25

Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to le...
Edited by: Stella Shon
Stella Shon's image

Stella Shon

Senior Features Editor

132 Published Articles 818 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 25U.S. States Visited: 22

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

American Airlines announced today, March 4, that it has ordered a whopping 260 single-aisle aircraft, encompassing jets from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.

“Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernize and simplify our fleet, which is the largest and youngest among U.S. network carriers,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “These orders will continue to fuel our fleet with newer, more efficient aircraft so we can continue to deliver the best network and record-setting operational reliability for our customers.”

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about this blockbuster aircraft order!

American Orders More Aircraft From Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer

American Airlines has placed an order for 260 total narrow-body aircraft, with options for up to 193 more.

The order encompasses planes manufactured by Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer — here’s a look at how the deal breaks down specifically:

  • 85 Airbus A321neos
  • 85 Boeing 737 MAX 10s (AA has decided to convert 30 existing orders for MAX 8s to MAX 10s)
  • 90 Embraer E175s

The airline says that this order is a strategic move to support the vision it has for its domestic and short-haul international networks and it will allow the carrier to offer more premium seats on its narrow-body and regional aircraft.

AA narrowbody order
Image Credit: American Airlines

The Airbus A320 family has been a mainstay in American’s fleet for years and primarily serves domestic missions and shorter flights to international destinations. The order of 85 additional A321neos should allow the airline to stay on course with its plans for those 2 networks.

Meanwhile, the airline operates several Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and the addition of the MAX 10 will allow it to offer more capacity on routes already served by the 737 family of aircraft. The MAX 10 is still awaiting certification from the FAA.

On the regional side of things, American remains committed to retiring all of the 50-seat regional aircraft with a single class of service in its fleet by the end of the decade. The 90 new Embraer E175s will allow the airline to provide a better product for customers in smaller markets who rely on these aircraft to connect them to the airline’s major hubs and global network. All of these aircraft will have 2 classes of service, in-seat power, and Wi-Fi service.

American has been in the middle of a fleet renewal project — since 2014, the airline says it has taken delivery of more than 600 aircraft, both mainline and regional. This order placed today means that the carrier currently has almost 450 aircraft on order.

Hot Tip:

Read our full review of American Airlines AAdvantage to learn everything there is to know about the program.

Final Thoughts

American has placed a significant order for narrow-body aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. These single-aisle aircraft will primarily serve domestic flights, shorter international flights, and flights from smaller markets to the airline’s hubs across the country.

With 440 total aircraft waiting to be delivered to the airline, it’s well-positioned to maintain and grow its network as the demand for flights continues to increase in the coming years.

Nick Ellis's image

About Nick Ellis

Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to leverage the perks of each.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status