American Airlines has long been a major player in the global aviation industry, continually seeking to optimize its fleet to balance operational efficiency, passenger comfort, and profitability. Among the different aircraft models reviewed and integrated into the lineup over the years, the Airbus A350 stands out as particularly complicated. Dive in for a look at the A350’s on-and-off journey with American Airlines.
The initial order American Airlines' A350 order, originally placed by US Airways in 2005, was a strategic move to modernize its long-haul fleet and improve fuel efficiency. The A350 was chosen since the merged fleet was predominantly made up of A320s and A330s. Simple Flying reported that Airbus also provided a $250 million loan to assist with US Airways's restructuring .
However, American Airlines' merger with US Airways in 2013 led to a significant shift in fleet strategy. The new, larger American Airlines had overlapping aircraft orders, including the A350-800s that US Airways had ordered. American Airlines initially decided to switch all the orders for the A350 from the -800 type to the -900 type, causing Airbus to drop the variant completely.
As the airline reassessed its future fleet needs, it decided to prioritize streamlining operations and simplifying its fleet. This led American Airlines to favor Boeing aircraft. The Boeing 787, already in service with American, offered similar range and efficiency benefits to the A350, making it a more practical choice.