American to Retire 45 Boeing 737s in Next Two Years
A runner looks on as an American Airlines Boeing Co. 737 jet takes off at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
American Airlines Group Inc. plans to retire 45 of its oldest Boeing Co. 737 jets over the next two years as part of an overhaul that will reduce the age of its workhorse narrow-body fleet.
The Fort Worth, Texas, carrier plans to withdraw 12 of the aircraft next year and 33 in 2020, or about three a month. American’s oldest 737-800s are almost 19 years old, although recent deliveries have reduced the group’s average age to 8.1 years, according to the airline’s annual report. American had 304 of the Boeing model at the end of last year, making up nearly one-third of its main jet fleet.