Refurbish or replace? American Airlines ponders fate of top international workhorse jet
When mulling over a big-ticket purchase, many of us come to the same age-old question: Should I fix up what I have or buy a new one?
American Airlines is currently wrestling with just that decision — albeit one with far bigger stakes than a home improvement project or a new car.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is trying to decide what to do about its workhorse long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 777-200ER, CEO Robert Isom said at a recent industry event.
Behind the scenes: Inside the dizzying process of aircraft maintenance at AA's Tulsa facility
An international workhorse
American has 47 of the 777-200s — more than any other wide-body plane in its fleet.
The jet flies all over the world. It serves passengers on the airline's new route from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND). It's also a big part of American's transatlantic flying, as you can see on the below July 2024 map from Cirium.
Its amenities aren't bad; it sports 37 lie-flat business-class pods, along with 24 premium economy seats.
But American's fleet of 273-seat 777s isn't young, either. With an average age of just under 24 years, the jets date back to the early years of Boeing's 777 program.
Now, a little perspective: Commercial airplanes can fly for decades, so American's 777-200ERs are hardly in their twilight. But to extend their lives in the long term, they'd likely need a bit of tender loving care in the cabin.
And, much like a car owner ponders how much they're willing to spend on maintenance at, say, the 90,000-mile mark, American is currently thinking through how it wants to approach the future of its international workhorse.
"The 777-200 is something we're talking about right now," Isom acknowledged, speaking at the Skift Aviation Forum in Dallas on Nov. 12.
Upgrades clearing less? Airlines say more passengers are just paying for those first-class seats
Long-haul fleet future
One reason the fate of the 777-200 comes up: There's a clear path forward for all of American's other long-haul jets.
Its 20 larger 777-300ER aircraft are younger, with an average age of just under 11 years, per Cirium. Those planes are headed to the shop starting in 2025 for total interior makeovers, including the elimination of their Flagship First cabin in favor of American's all-new Flagship Business suites.
Those jets are "in really good shape," Isom said.
American's new, more premium-heavy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners — slated to join the fleet soon — will also sport the privacy door-equipped suites (as will its narrow-body, transatlantic-capable Airbus A321XLRs set to join the fleet in 2025).
Sure, American's existing Dreamliners don't have the new suite concept, but they're also a lot younger than its 777-200s that have been around most of this century.
I found the current Dreamliner's business-class product to be more than comfortable on a recent flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Enter Isom's dilemma on the elder long-haul 777-200s.
"Is that an aircraft that we're going to go ahead and invest in — remod the interiors, upgrade those?" he posed, speaking in Dallas. "Or is it something you take a look at for potential replacement in the future?"
Among other factors for American to consider, its 777-200s sport two different business-class configurations. Some offer the newer reverse herringbone Super Diamond pod, while others still fly with the far less popular Concept D seat that alternates between a forward- and rear-facing configuration. If the carrier opts for an interior refurbish on the aircraft, it could look to harmonize (and modernize) its business class product on the jets.
Those factors will surely figure into its ultimate decision.
In depth: Inside American's Tulsa aircraft maintenance facility
An otherwise young fleet
In a lot of ways, American can claim a feather in its cap that it really only faces this sort of dilemma with one twin-aisle aircraft type.
While the carrier hasn't enjoyed the same profits as its top U.S. competitors in recent years, American does have a younger fleet than Delta Air Lines or United Airlines. Delta and United have vast outstanding orders for long-haul jets, and the airlines continue to fly an array of long-haul airplanes that are older than American's 777-200s, such as the Boeing 767 found in both carriers' fleets.
Plus, as mentioned, American isn't done getting new planes.
On top of hundreds of single-aisle jets — including 50 of its new XLRs — the carrier has outstanding orders for 30 new Dreamliners in the coming years; this includes the new premium-heavy 787-9s (to be known as the "787-9P") that'll debut in the near future.
"I like what we have. We have a good stream of the 787-9s coming in over the next several years, and that is going to allow us to really expand in ways and serve markets in a way that customers want," Isom said.
What could come next?
Some might wonder what could replace American's nearly four dozen 777-200s — if, that is, the carrier decides a glow-up for the jet isn't worthwhile.
Isom said the carrier has strong hopes for its existing and incoming Dreamliners over the next decade.
But he also acknowledged, "Of course, we're talking to Airbus as we need to."
While American's current wide-body orderbook exclusively features Boeing's Dreamliner, it's safe to say the airline has connections with the French planemaker, as it has hundreds of narrow-body A320 family jets in its fleet.
It's worth noting, Boeing is also currently producing a new generation of 777X jets. However, the 777X has run into a series of delays, and no U.S. airline has ordered any variants of the jet to date.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees