American Airlines orders 460 Boeing and Airbus aircraft
Wednesday 20 July 2011 2:26 PM
The world's fourth-largest airline by number of passengers, American is buying 200 Boeing 737s and 260 Airbus A320 aircraft.
American described the twin deals as "the largest aircraft order in history".
Its parent company AMR Corporation added that the new single-aisle planes would "transform" American's fleet.
The new aircraft will be delivered between 2013 and 2022.
AMR chairman Gerard Arpey said American would have "the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among our peers in the US industry within five years".
He added: "This new fleet will dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while enhancing our financial flexibility."
The exact financial details of both deals have not been revealed.
Europe's Airbus said the American order was a "strong endorsement".
Seattle-based Boeing said that American also had an option to buy a further 100 planes.
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