American Airlines orders 460 Boeing and Airbus aircraft

[K1052]

Their 757 are indeed awfull, I don't mind not having a personal entertainment center (an ipad is all I need) but their cabin layout is very cramped in cattle class and the interior and seats look indeed like someone vomitted all over them, stains everywhere. I only paid like 600 euros so I can't complain too much. Also flew an MD and the fact that there was internet made up for the ghetto style

Personally I think having an IFE should be standard at this point for an international fleet along with internet (particularly the majors), regardless of class.

The 757 domestics AA uses here are a horror show. I don't fly them under any circumstances. Even the first class cabin is all bombed out with huge floppy leather chairs that have 8 trillion cracks in them, caked in grime, and provide zero support. I always opt for a MD-80 if available on the same route.

 

[freegeeks]

Personally I think having an IFE should be standard at this point for an international fleet along with internet (particularly the majors), regardless of class.

The 757 domestics AA uses here are a horror show. I don't fly them under any circumstances. Even the first class cabin is all bombed out with huge floppy leather chairs that have 8 trillion cracks in them, caked in grime, and provide zero support. I always opt for a MD-80 if available on the same route.

Most IFE suck (screen quality) and selection is so-so (lots of editing)
I prefer my ipad

They also have this funny option during check-in that you can actually pay $10 or so board the plane with the first group so you have enough space for your hand luggage. never saw that before. Are there actually people who pay for this crap, I mean it's not my problem that there is not enough luggage space in the cabin. Whenever I'm in that situation, I just give my hand luggage to a flight attendant and let them figure it out. Why would I pay for something that is already included in my ticket?

 

[K1052]

Most IFE suck (screen quality) and selection is so-so (lots of editing)
I prefer my ipad

They also have this funny option during check-in that you can actually pay $10 or so board the plane with the first group so you have enough space for your hand luggage. never saw that before. Are there actually people who pay for this crap, I mean it's not my problem that there is not enough luggage space in the cabin. Whenever I'm in that situation, I just give my hand luggage to a flight attendant and let them figure it out. Why would I pay for something that is already included in my ticket?

I like using my ipad on the plane too but after a while the viewing starts to bother me, would prefer to watch straight ahead. I'd be quite happy if American outfitted their fleet with something like Virgin America's "Red" system.

That kind of fee option is increasingly common among US carriers. It has been effective I think since carry on space is ever more at a premium because of the checked baggage fees.

 

[woolfe9999]

Apparently progressives are all for America until it threatens their European socialism.

Whee! I never would have imagined it, but it IS fun being mindless!

Hint: Conservatives are for America.

Except you say things like that all the time when you're not apparently joking. Who are you satirizing again?

- wolf

 

[Zorba]

I primarily fly AA and I will be happy to not have to fly on one of those MD80s lol. They should have started this years ago and done it over a longer period of time.

AA started retiring the MD80s a few years ago when they restarted taking deliveries of 737s. They used to have 316 MD80s, now it is under 220 and is scheduled be at 150 MD80s at the end of next year.

Right now AA has over 150 737s.

 

[Zorba]

exactly, I fly both all the time and it comes down to the airline. I flew AA transatlantic last week (Boeing) and I think everyone who flies AA will agree that they are pretty ghetto (old planes).

Need to fly first on a 777, nothing ghetto about that

If AA would throw in a cabin refresh more often that would help the perception, particularly their 757s which all look like run over shit inside.

The international 757s have all had cabin refreshes, including all new seats, IFE, sidewalls, lavatories, etc. The rest of the 757 fleet is undergoing a cabin improvement program, also all new seats, IFE, lavs, etc. The domestic fleet is a little over 10% complete.

I am eagerly awaiting the 737s with the Boeing Sky interiors...

AA already took delivery of the first 737 sky interior, it is very cool looking. I wonder about the overhead bins, though. The way they pivot, they are very hard to close, although I did test it at max capacity.

As far as the engines go for the new orders. The current generation 737s will be CFM56s as they are the only option. I read today that the reengined 737s will be exclusively LEAP-X, but considering that aircraft hasn't even been officially launched yet I am sure that could change.

 

[rudder]

Great news!

What happens to the old planes?

Converted to cargo or used in charter operations. The largest factor in determining the life of an airplane is how many cycles the airframe has gone through. Each cycle is the plane being pressurized then depressurized. Airlines can put quite a few cycles on a plane every day where cargo or charter operations cut that to 1 or 2 a day and extends the life of the airplane.

There are still a lot of companies flying DC-8's (Last new delivery in 1972). Companies throw some newer engines on these old airframes and they are good to go for quite a while longer.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

My question is how much of the money American Airlines will be using to buy these airlines came from American taxpayer dollars, considering our government has bailed most of the carriers out how many times? Not that Tom Daschle's wife making millions as an airline industry lobbyist had anything to do with that.

 

[a777pilot]

Need to fly first on a 777, nothing ghetto about that

You betcha.

Our crew rest seats were in First Class. That was about the only enjoyable part of those DFW to NRT flights.

 

[ichy]

My question is how much of the money American Airlines will be using to buy these airlines came from American taxpayer dollars, considering our government has bailed most of the carriers out how many times? Not that Tom Daschle's wife making millions as an airline industry lobbyist had anything to do with that.

Actually a big chunk of the money will come from Boeing and Airbus's financial units. That's why they split the order, it was easier to get financing.

 

[freegeeks]

interesting read about the deal
the 737 is at the end of its design cycle and Boeing doesn't really have an alternative lined up
analysts think that the a320neo will be the biggest winner
airbus is even thinking about opening a US production line to cope with demand

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015662118_american20.html

 

[Engineer]

airbus is even thinking about opening a US production line to cope with demand

That would be awesome!

 

[a777pilot]

interesting read about the deal
the 737 is at the end of its design cycle and Boeing doesn't really have an alternative lined up
analysts think that the a320neo will be the biggest winner
airbus is even thinking about opening a US production line to cope with demand

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015662118_american20.html

I wonder if they will consider South Carolina.

 

[K1052]

I have the suspicion that Boeing is going to do both, re-engine the 737 and start the next generation plane at the same time.

Several other of their customers already said the 2020ish time frame was too long to wait for a 737 replacement.

 

[Darwin333]

Probably sent to a junk yard in Arizona or sold to carriers in Central and South America.

Let me get this straight, the plane I might fly in tomorrow if sold the next day would at BEST be suitable to sell to some craptastic airline in Central or South America???

 

[a777pilot]

Let me get this straight, the plane I might fly in tomorrow if sold the next day would at BEST be suitable to sell to some craptastic airline in Central or South America???

Again...

In a word: YES!

 

[PottedMeat]

That would be awesome!

it's probably just EADS picking up the plans they had for the air force tankers when their bid lost to boeing minus northrop grumman

 

[Darwin333]

Again...

In a word: YES!

If you had to guess, what percentage of the fleet of planes flew in America (not just AA) are suitable only for 3rd world countries or scrap?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I recently flew on one of the new A330's... It was &^%*@ NICE!!!

 

[a777pilot]

If you had to guess, what percentage of the fleet of planes flew in America (not just AA) are suitable only for 3rd world countries or scrap?

All of them.

The maintenance of American's national fleet of aircraft (not just AA's) is second to done. Absence that great care none of our aircraft would be in the air.

 

[a777pilot]

I recently flew on one of the new A330's... It was &^%*@ NICE!!!

You are speaking only from the point of view of the passenger, which is logical. I don't like the design and engineering of the Airbus aircraft and I'm speaking from a pilot's point of view. Oh, yes, the integrated computer flight system needs some serious upgrades and revisions.

 

[davmat787]

You betcha.

Our crew rest seats were in First Class. That was about the only enjoyable part of those DFW to NRT flights.

I was at the 777-200LR ceremonial rollout at PAE. Since I had a press pass then, I was able to really check out the aircraft. One of the neatest features was the overhead crew rest cabin. I could be confusing this with the 777-300ER rollout config, but you climbed a short ladder into a cabin above first class. It had two nice first/biz class seats, IFE, and two bunks behind those with lights and other amenities.

That must be very nice for the extra pilot crew that is needed on those ultra long haul flights.

I don't think people realize just how big the GE-90-115's are. An amazing piece of engineering, along with the other 777 engine options of course. I would love to have a 1:1 scale fan blade for my house if anyone has one to part with.

 

[Darwin333]

All of them.

The maintenance of American's national fleet of aircraft (not just AA's) is second to done. Absence that great care none of our aircraft would be in the air.

second to done or second to none? There is a huge difference between the two

Assuming it is the latter, I guess I am still confused. If they are so well maintained then why are they only fit for 3rd world countries at this point?

I don't know the first thing about commercial aircraft which is probably why I am so confused. Is it just a cost/expected lifespan issue (again, if well maintained it should fetch a decent price and last long enough to justify it??)?

I know its not a valid comparison but the last used car I sold was better then I see in most 3rd world countries.

 

[freegeeks]

I have the suspicion that Boeing is going to do both, re-engine the 737 and start the next generation plane at the same time.

Several other of their customers already said the 2020ish time frame was too long to wait for a 737 replacement.

re-engine of the 737 is going to be very expensive, the current airframe can not support it without serious redesign. The successor of the 737 has not been announced yet and would only be available after 2020 at the earliest. Boeing is facing a serious issue with the 737, the current model doesn't cut it anymore and is difficult to develop any further and there is no new design on the horizon

 

[K1052]

re-engine of the 737 is going to be very expensive, the current airframe can not support it without serious redesign. The successor of the 737 has not been announced yet and would only be available after 2020 at the earliest. Boeing is facing a serious issue with the 737, the current model doesn't cut it anymore and is difficult to develop any further and there is no new design on the horizon

IIRC, they figured that the re-engine will cost about $2B and a new plane $10B. It's probable that the 737 line would still be in production for a number of years after a successor started production so the money on the re-engine would definitely not be wasted.

Both Boeing and Airbus are going to need to start designing their next generation of narrow body planes soon to keep ahead of Bombardier and Embraer.