Amr Ceo Says Boeing 787 May Fit With Fleet Plan

[Hatu]

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Boeing Co.'s (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) newest passenger jet, the 787 Dreamliner, may fit in with American Airlines' (AMR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fleet plans "down the road," but for now the carrier is focused on boosting savings from existing planes, its chief executive said on Wednesday.
"We're very intrigued and excited about the 787," said Gerard Arpey in a conference call with analysts, adding that: "Our immediate issue and desire is to drive the 700 plus planes we have to profitability."

http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompa...20222366_newsml

 

[FWAAA]

Consistent with prior statements in conference calls and analysts' conferences.

Last time Arpey and Beer talked about the 787, they said that AA was interested in the stretch model that won't be available until at least 2010 or so.

 

[FA Mikey]

be about that long before we could afford to buy it

 

[MAH4546]

be about that long before we could afford to buy it

[post="263398"][/post]​

AA could buy it today if they wanted to. They have more than enough cash to buy two dozen. They have priorties, of course, so they aren't going to order them just yet.

 

[lpbrian]

737's on order could easily be swapped for 787's. Mgmt is right to wait a while.

 

[FWAAA]

737's on order could easily be swapped for 787's. Mgmt is right to wait a while.

[post="263452"][/post]​

Given that AA has deferred the next 738 delivery until 2013, you may be onto something.

Seriously, though, unless things improve dramatically in the next few years, AA will probably order no new airplanes.

 

[JDI]

Given that AA has deferred the next 738 delivery until 2013, you may be onto something.

Seriously, though, unless things improve dramatically in the next few years, AA will probably order no new airplanes.

[post="263455"][/post]​

I agree that they probably won't pull the trigger on the 787 until there is some improvement to their bottom line. That said ---- I wouldn't be at all surprised if they move quickly on this as soon as they do show a quarter or two of profit. I really think they don't want to fall too far behind competitors in their fleet. They should learn another lesson from TWA when Icahn never invested in new fleet and by the early 1990's, TWA was hobbled significantly by flying their old, gas guzzling (and miscast) fleet. You know ---- L1011's doing some short-hop type flying, etc.

Jeff I.