American Airlines retires iconic widebody aircraft including Boeing and Airbus models

American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has a fleet of over 980 mainline jets, ranking it as the third-largest commercial airline globally by fleet size. The airline operates Boeing and Airbus models exclusively for its widebody jets. In March 2024, American Airlines had 338 Airbus and Boeing jets on order, along with at least 20 supersonic transport jets from Boom Aerospace.

Over time, American Airlines has retired several aircraft models to modernize and improve fuel efficiency. Among the retired models is the Boeing 747, which was introduced in the 1970s but phased out due to high operating costs during the oil crisis of that decade. The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and later the Boeing 767 replaced it.

The Boeing 767 was significant for American Airlines as it transitioned from larger quad-engine jets to more efficient widebodies. Introduced in 1982, this model supported international network expansion until its retirement around the pandemic onset.