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In April 2020, American Airlines announced the retirement of five aircraft types, including the Boeing 757-200s. These aircraft had been part of the America West fleet since 1987 and joined American Airlines in 1989. They primarily served mainland domestic and Hawaii routes, with some trans-Atlantic and Latin American services.
The decision to retire these aircraft was not unexpected, as American Airlines had planned to phase out its oldest and least fuel-efficient planes. However, the timing was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant drop in passenger numbers. This downturn allowed airlines to retire older aircraft without disrupting operations significantly.
American Airlines aimed to simplify its fleet by focusing on two cockpit types: the A320 and the 737. This strategy was intended to improve maintenance efficiency and crew training. Despite this simplification effort, American Airlines needs to meet capacity demands as air traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels.
