American Airlines orders 460 planes from Boeing, Airbus

DALLAS — American Airlines Inc. is buying 460 airplanes from Airbus and Boeing Co., the company announced Wednesday, the biggest aircraft purchase in aviation history.

As part of the deal, American is getting about $13 billion in financing from the two companies, covering the first 230 deliveries.

“These new deliveries are expected to pave the way for American to have the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among its U.S. airline peers in approximately five years,” American said in its announcement.

Parent AMR Corp. disclosed the major purchase as it announced a $286-million loss for the three months that ended June 30.

In addition, AMR outlined its plans to spin off its American Eagle regional carrier to AMR shareholders in coming months.

Among other major disclosures, American said it expects to cut back its flight schedule between the United States and Europe. It is “evaluating its winter flying, and anticipates making seasonal route and day-of-week flying adjustments in early 2012 to improve its results,” the company said.

It also wants the flexibility to suspend its new route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

The jet order carries a sticker price of more than $38 billion, although big airlines routinely get discounts and typically play one aircraft maker off another to get better deals.

The order is for Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s 737, the world’s two most widely used commercial jets.

Maxon writes for the Dallas Morning News/McClatchy.