[skeptoid]

. . . . . . ..but I guess that’s a good way of hedging their bets if either company’s re-engine program runs into difficulty.

Jon Ostrower gives this aspect of the split order:

Though a split but, say industry watchers, allows American to compete Boeing and Airbus on an airframe by airframe basis, forcing both to trade margins for marketshare.

Only Gentiles pay retail.

[Moose4]

Yep, they play them off against each other. Prudent move by American.

I’ll be interested to see what Delta does next. They have the next-largest fleet of MD-80s (about 100). Up until the Northwest merger, they had shown no interest in Airbii, but since they’ve picked up NWA’s fleet of A320s and A330s, I’ll be interested to see how they feel about ordering more.

}:-)4