In Brief : $7.4-Billion Jet Purchase Reported

American Airlines is expected to announce two aircraft orders for 160 airplanes worth $7.4 billion, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported today.

American spokesman Al Becker described the report as “highly speculative.”

According to the article, the airline, owner of the largest commercial jet fleet in the non-Communist world, will order 60 long-range McDonnell Douglas MD-11s for an estimated $5.4 billion and 100 domestic-range MD-80s for an estimated $2 billion more. Both aircraft are produced in the McDonnell Douglas facility in Long Beach.

American decided to buy the MD-11, which has yet to make its first flight, instead of the Boeing 747-400, the newest, largest and longest-range of Boeing Commercial Airplane Co.’s line of jumbo jets, the newspaper quoted Wall Street and industry sources as saying.

The two deals will be announced within the next three weeks, as soon as final language of the contract is worked out, the article said.

Asked to comment on the report, Becker said: “We have not signed any agreements nor have we made any deals with either of the aircraft manufacturers, and we have no announcements imminent.