American to firm up 787 order, add two 777s and firm up MAX

American Airlines will firm up 42 orders for the Boeing 787, its 737 MAX order and add two 777 orders upon bankruptcy court approval, according to an SEC filing today.

American’s plans to acquire 75 787s had always been contingent on a new pilot contract–which has come through the bankruptcy process. The MAX orders, placed in July 2011, also were never firmed up due to the bankruptcy filing the next month.

Two new 777 orders were unconnected to the 787 and MAX orders.

From the SEC filing:

The Restructured Aircraft Purchase Agreements will provide for certain concessions and savings to American in connection with the acquisition by American of the 737 aircraft, the 787 aircraft and aircraft spare parts. The Restructured Aircraft Purchase Agreements will also provide for the substitution of up to 20 787-8 aircraft for 787-9 aircraft, an accelerated delivery schedule for the 787 aircraft with deliveries scheduled to commence in November 2014 and to continue in each calendar year through September 2018, and the confirmation of the purchase of the Boeing 787 aircraft, which previously had been subject to certain reconfirmation rights.

Under the Restructured Aircraft Purchase Agreements, as of January 31, 2013, American will have firm aircraft orders for 111 737 aircraft, 18 777 aircraft and 42 787 aircraft, with the option to purchase 40 737 aircraft, 13 777 aircraft and 58 787 aircraft.

MAX Aircraft Purchase Agreement. The Restructuring Agreement further provides that, upon approval by the Court, American will enter into a definitive purchase agreement (the MAX purchase agreement) pursuant to which American will acquire 100 MAX aircraft, equipped with new, more fuel efficient engines. The MAX purchase agreement will constitute the definitive purchase agreement contemplated by and will supersede the agreement entered into by American and Boeing on July 19, 2011 (the 2011 MAX order) that provided for the commitment of American to purchase such MAX aircraft (referred to in the 2011 MAX order as 737RE aircraft). The 2011 MAX order was subject to a number of contingencies, including the parties entering into a definitive purchase agreement and Boeing’s approval of the launch of the Boeing 737 re-engined aircraft program, which was approved in August 2011. Under the MAX purchase agreement, the MAX aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in each of the years 2018 through 2022. In addition, under the MAX purchase agreement, American will have the option to purchase 60 additional MAX aircraft in the years 2022-2025.

AA plans 767 retirement from about 2015–does this mean 787 order will finally be firmed up soon?

American Airlines announced that it plans to retrofit Boeing 777-200s and half its Boeing 767-300ER fleet with lie-flat business class seats as a means to upgrade its international service. AA also announced that it plans to retrofit only half of the 767 fleet and retire the rest.

IAM 751 Tweets that the retirement will start about 2015.

Does this mean American is preparing to at long last firm up its MOU for up to 100 Boeing 787s? The MOU was made several years ago, but was never firmed pending resolution of pilot contract negotiations. This, of course, hasn’t happened, and now in bankruptcy, American is moving under Section 1113 of the bankruptcy code to void the contract (and other labor agreements) and to impose its own terms.

This fleet upgrade and retirement announced suggests to us that American might be nearing a resolution (under 1113 if nowhere else) that will lead to firming up the 787 order.

No wonder Jim McNerney favors an American solution to a US Airways merger.