American Airlines Orders 150 Fokkers, 35 Boeings

American Airlines today announced one of the biggest aircraft orders in history, a double-barreled, multibillion-dollar deal for up to 150 Dutch Fokker 100 short-haul planes and 35 Boeing jetliners.

The purchases announced by American’s senior executives at a New York news conference signaled the latest push by one of the nation’s biggest commercial carriers to modernize its sprawling fleet through the 1990s. Over the last two months American has gone on an aircraft shopping spree exceeding $10 billion.

Robert L. Crandall, American’s chairman and president, said the short-haul Fokkers will enable the company to retire older Boeing 727s and replace aging British Aerospace planes used primarily for flights of less than 1,000 miles.

American has placed firm orders for 75 Fokkers and options for another 75 in a deal potentially worth $3.09 billion.

The Boeing order is for 25 757-200s and 10 767-300ER aircraft.

Crandall would not disclose the value of the contract for the Boeing 757s and 767s, but analysts and industry sources estimated the value at $1.8 billion to $2.1 billion. The latest Boeing acquisition will bring American’s total orders of these aircraft to 85 firm and 85 options.

American also said it had placed orders with Rolls-Royce for 238 engines valued at up to $1.7 billion to power the Fokkers and 757s. The 767s will be powered by General Electric engines, the airline said.