American Airlines is weighing a major widebody aircraft order—and sources say the choice comes down to Boeing or Airbus. The carrier is evaluating either the Boeing 787 or Airbus A330neo to modernize its long-haul fleet, a decision that underscores how far American has fallen behind competitors Delta and United in widebody capacity additions.
An announcement could come soon. Industry sources indicate American’s widebody order may be imminent, though as of early June 2026, no official announcement has been made. The evaluation centers on two aircraft: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which American has operated since 2014, and the Airbus A330-900neo, a newer entrant to the carrier’s fleet consideration.
Competitive Pressure Driving Decision
The numbers tell the story. Delta Air Lines has 61 widebody aircraft on firm order. United Airlines? That’s 135 widebodies—the largest order by any U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history. American’s remaining order book contains only 19 Boeing 787-9s, a modest figure for a carrier of its scale.
Delta accelerated its widebody strategy on January 28, 2026, ordering 16 Airbus A330-900s, 15 A350-900s, and 30 Boeing 787-10s with 30 options. The A330-900 order marked Delta’s first Airbus widebody purchase since the mid-2010s, signaling a strategic shift in U.S. carrier procurement patterns.
“As we grow our international footprint and prepare our fleet to serve expanded long-haul markets, these aircraft will enhance our capabilities and elevate our premium offerings,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said during the January announcement.
The Aircraft Under Consideration
The Boeing 787-10 offers a logical path forward. Higher capacity than the 787-9, strong fuel efficiency, and competitive per-seat economics make it attractive. The variant could eventually help replace American’s aging Boeing 777-300ER fleet—currently 20 aircraft undergoing premium cabin retrofits.
But the 787 comes with real drawbacks: premium pricing and extended delivery timelines. Delta’s recent 787-10 order won’t see first delivery until 2031. That’s a six-year wait from order to operational aircraft.
The Airbus A330-900neo presents a different option. The aircraft is somewhat cheaper than the 787-10, carries slightly lower capacity, and offers faster delivery timelines. Airbus has invested $2 billion in the A330neo program, which is approaching 500 orders globally—allowing competitive pricing and accelerated scheduling.
Fleet Modernization Context
American’s widebody fleet currently consists of 67 Boeing 777s (47 777-200ERs and 20 777-300ERs) and 70 Boeing 787s (37 787-8s and 33 787-9s). The airline last placed a major widebody order in April 2018, when it committed to 47 Boeing 787s—22 787-8s and 25 787-9s—powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines.
That 2018 decision reflected American’s fleet simplification strategy. The carrier terminated its order for 22 Airbus A350s, inherited from US Airways, in favor of standardizing on the Boeing 787 platform.
American’s premium cabin strategy has also evolved. The carrier introduced its Boeing 787-9P Dreamliner in summer 2025, featuring 51 Flagship Suite seats and 32 premium economy seats per aircraft—a 65% increase in premium capacity compared to previous configurations.
What’s Next
Industry observers expect an announcement before year-end 2026, though no date has been confirmed. American’s decision will likely influence ordering patterns across the U.S. carrier industry, where widebody procurement has accelerated dramatically in 2025-2026 compared to the staggered patterns of prior years.
No official statement has been issued by American Airlines, Boeing, or Airbus regarding unit counts, dollar values, or delivery schedules for the pending order.
Sources
- One Mile at a Time — American Airlines Widebody Order Report
- Delta Air Lines January 2026 Widebody Order Announcement
- American Airlines 2025 Premium Cabin Configuration Details
- Boeing 787 and Airbus A330neo Program Data
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