American Airlines Plots Major Widebody Order to Compete with Delta and United
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American Airlines has formally re-entered the widebody aircraft market for the first time in nearly a decade, with CEO Robert Isom telling shareholders on June 10, 2026 that the carrier has issued a request for proposals to both Airbus and Boeing.
The disclosure, made during the airline’s annual meeting, sets the stage for what could be one of the most consequential fleet decisions in the company’s centennial year.
The timing matters because Delta and United have spent the last several years quietly stockpiling long-haul jets while American largely sat on the sidelines.
American now needs to convert intent into a signed deal before delivery slots vanish.
Let’s analyze everything in detail.
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What Isom Actually Said at the Shareholders Meeting
Speaking to investors on June 10, Isom framed the decision as part of broader long-term fleet planning rather than an emergency procurement. He confirmed that the airline has an RFP in the market and is engaging both manufacturers simultaneously.
The CEO disclosed three figures that anchor the discussion.
American currently has 19 widebodies on firm order, holds options on 28 additional aircraft, and expects to retire its Boeing 777 fleet sometime in the 2030s.
Isom argued that the long lead times associated with widebody manufacturing require early planning. He also emphasized that narrowbody planning is already settled, which leaves long-haul aircraft as the principal open question in fleet strategy.
KEY FACTS FROM THE JUNE 10, 2026 SHAREHOLDER MEETING
- Confirmed: RFP issued to both Airbus and Boeing
- Current firm widebody backlog: 19 aircraft (all 787-9s)
- Outstanding options: 28 aircraft
- 777 retirement window: 2030s
- Last widebody order placed: 2018 (Boeing 787)
The statement marks the clearest public acknowledgment yet that Fort Worth is preparing to commit capital.
How American’s Fleet Compares to Delta and United
The competitive picture is stark.
End-of-2025 SEC filings show American operating 137 widebody aircraft, while Delta operated 158 and United operated 230.
The gap is even wider on the order book.
Delta has 85 widebody aircraft on order across the A330-900neo, A350-900, and A350-1000 families.
United has been ordering Boeing 787s in volume and is taking about 20 new-generation widebodies in 2026 alone, predominantly Dreamliners.
American’s 19-aircraft backlog, by contrast, consists entirely of Boeing 787-9s carried over from its 2018 commitment. The carrier last placed a widebody order eight years ago and has even deferred some of those 787-9 deliveries along the way.
US BIG THREE WIDEBODY SCORECARD (END OF 2025)
+----------+------------------+-------------------+
| Airline | Widebodies Flown | Widebodies Ordered|
+----------+------------------+-------------------+
| American | 137 | 19 |
| Delta | 158 | 85 |
| United | 230 | 100+ |
+----------+------------------+-------------------+
Source: SEC filings; Airlines dataThe fleet asymmetry has real revenue implications.
International long-haul flying has been the single largest profit pool for both Delta and United in recent quarters, and capacity constraints have made it difficult for the third major carrier to participate fully in that growth.
The Pandemic Decisions That Created This Gap
Understanding why American is now playing catch-up requires looking back to 2020.
The carrier used the pandemic shock to permanently retire roughly