American Airlines Reduces 2024 Aircraft Delivery Forecast by 24%

American Airlines has revised its aircraft delivery expectations for 2024, announcing a reduction in its forecast by 24%. Initially projected to receive 29 new mainline aircraft this year, the airline now anticipates only 22 deliveries. This update was shared by Devon E May, the Chief Financial Officer of American Airlines, during a first-quarter investor call.

The revised delivery schedule includes sixteen Boeing 737-8s, three Boeing 787-9s, and three Airbus A321-200NX aircraft. This is a decrease from the earlier forecast, which included additional Boeing aircraft.

The adjustment in delivery expectations is largely attributed to ongoing challenges across the aerospace industry, including regulatory limits on production increases, supply chain constraints, and other developmental delays. These factors have significantly disrupted fleet planning not just for American Airlines, but for many carriers worldwide.

American Airlines has so far received two Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2024 and expects to add twelve new Embraer E175s, to be operated by its regional carriers including Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, and PSA Airlines. Despite the mainline delivery cutbacks, the airline has not provided an update on its longer-term aircraft acquisition plans, which previously included receiving a steady stream of new aircraft through 2029.

As a direct result of the reduced aircraft availability, American Airlines has also announced the suspension of several international routes for the summer season, including flights from New York JFK to Athens and Barcelona, from Dallas/Fort Worth to Rome and Dublin, and from Chicago O’Hare to Paris CDG.

This recalibration of delivery and operational plans reflects broader issues faced by the aviation industry, including specific challenges at Boeing that have affected delivery schedules across several carriers, such as United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. However, American Airlines notes that improvements in regional aircraft utilization have partially offset the impact of these delays, helping to mitigate the overall effect on the airline’s operational capacity.