American Airlines Risks Falling Behind Rivals in Aircraft Arms Race

American Airlines is trailing its two largest rivals in the race to grow international capacity. While Delta and United have more than 100 widebody aircraft on order, American’s backlog is minimal – raising questions about whether it can keep pace in the most lucrative long-haul markets.

As of the end of 2025, American had 137 widebodies, compared to 158 at Delta and 230 at United, according to company SEC filings. That gap looks set to widen. Both competitors have large delivery pipelines that will replace older aircraft and allow options for expansion. For its part, American has just 19 Boeing 787-9s on firm order.

While American has the youngest widebody fleet, that comparison comes with important context: the average fleet age at Delta and United is skewed by older Boeing 767s – and, in United’s case, some aging 777s.

The lack of new widebodies could reduce American’s growth opportunities, especially as its competitors look to capture gro