Here are some pre Paris Air Show facts

Here are some pre Paris Air Show facts and news report

Fleet profile for AA
http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/fleet.jsp

Of their total fleet of 619, 124 are Boeing 757 and 247 are MD80 that makes 371 possibly for replacement/renewal/refurbishment (B 757s).
100 A320NEO s is less than a third of the total of 371 unless it excludes the replacement of Boeing 757s and purely are replacements for half the MD80s

“An Inside Look at American Airline’s Fleet Renewal Plan“
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/idUS124695115620110602

“…..American plans to retire at least 25 MD-80s in 2011 and it is not exactly known when all MD-80s will be out of service. American will receive an additional 54 Boeing 737s with Sky Interior over the next two years

“…The airline plans to upgrade their older 737s to have newer seating and larger bins. In May 2010, American began updating its existing fleet of Boeing 737s. The retrofit includes the installation of new seats, new cabin interiors, updated in-flight entertainment systems and more storage throughout the aircraft. The retrofit is slated for completion by the first quarter of 2013. ….”

“…is also in the process of updating all Boeing 757s …The 757 aircraft enhancements began in August 2010 and have a planned completion of December 2015. As of early May 2011, American has completed upgrades to ten 757s….”

Interesting A320NEOs projected date is 2015.

“…will also be increasing their fleet of Boeing 777s with the addition of five 777-300ERs with deliveries slated for 2012 and 2013….”

I personally have faith that like many airlines the move towards Airbus may either be to encourage better deal making towards AA by Boeing or simply wishing to go for a strategy of not ‘putting all their eggs in one basket’.

That does not make AA anti Boeing and I can wait for Q3 post 787 delivery announcements on Boeing’s take on a likely competitor or comeback on the A320NEO.

At present in a damp UK June (in Edinburgh anyway), we are simmering under the only ‘rays of sunshine’ from the Paris Air Show care of Airbus. Civil aviation profits hype alone doesn’t make Boeing survive but instead their diverse cash flow from multiple aerospace sectors. The civil aviation cash flow for Boeing should pick up in 2012 with post 787 deliveries commencing Q3 2011.