Fleets: American Airlines orders the 787-8, simplifies its fleet

American Airlines has reached a conclusion about its future widebody needs: the airline has cancelled the A350 order inherited from US Airways and instead ordered additional 787s.

The order is notable for stalling Airbus in making inroads in American's widebody fleet, and means that Boeing has diverted another A330neo sales opportunity.

But American's order includes both the -8 and -9 variants. The -8 backlog had been running dry as Boeing prefers to build the -9, and airlines have struggled to generate sufficient revenue from the smaller -8. This could change as Boeing improves -8 manufacturing.

American's 787-8 configuration - even if it means greater density with a future LOPA - is still well below 787-8 average. Given the fresh opportunity for fleet assessment, American has found that 787-8 economics still deliver.