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In April 2020, American Airlines announced the retirement of several aircraft types, including the Boeing 767-300ER. This decision was part of a strategy to phase out older, less fuel-efficient planes earlier than planned. The airline aimed to reduce operating complexity and save on training and maintenance costs by streamlining its fleet.
However, the move led to a shortage of widebody jets for American Airlines as passenger numbers rebounded faster than expected post-pandemic. "American said that the decision to retire many of the older long-haul aircraft in its fleet had been initially announced a month before, largely coinciding with the global lockdowns," according to an official statement from the airline.
The retirement included other aircraft such as Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 757-200s. While some saw this as a necessary step due to maintenance issues with these models, others lamented the loss of certain aircraft like the Airbus A330s.
