American Airlines unveiled a website Thursday intended to help the public — and interested Chicago city officials such as aldermen — understand why the airline continues to resist signing a lease deal at O’Hare International that would give United Airlines a larger number of gates and a distinct competitive advantage. The lease deal is tied to a controversial US$8.5b O'Hare expansion plan announced last week. American’s website references what AA alleges to be a “last-minute deal” inserted into a new O’Hare lease agreement the city is pressuring American to sign. The website goes on to underscore AA’s contentions that the gate allocation the City wants to impose at O’Hare would limit consumer choice, stifle competition, and perhaps raise fares. <br/>
oneworld
American Airlines Group plans to retire 45 of its oldest Boeing 737 jets over the next 2 years as part of an overhaul that will reduce the age of its workhorse narrow-body fleet. The carrier plans to withdraw 12 of the aircraft next year and 33 in 2020, or about 3 a month. American’s oldest 737-800s are almost 19 years old, although recent deliveries have reduced the group’s average age to 8.1 years, according to the airline’s annual report. American had 304 of the Boeing model at the end of last year, making up nearly one-third of its main jet fleet. “It’s strictly an age-based retirement at this point,” an American spokesman said Thursday. Between the end of this year and the end of 2020, American plans to add 50 Airbus A321neo jets and 40 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. <br/>