On Wednesday, American Airlines ordered 42 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. As per list prices, the deal is worth around USD$8 billion. The deal has given a crucially required boost for the plane maker amidst a five-week strike by assembly workers and an uncertain economy. This is the first order made by American Airlines since 2001 for the wide body aircraft. The move by the airline follows the need to overhaul its existing fleet in addition to the airline being optimistic about the future of air travel.

The carbon-composite and titanium of the 787 is built to carry between 200 to 300 passengers on long-haul routes. The aircraft is known to be 20% more fuel efficient than its predecessors. American Airlines is at present purchasing the larger version of 787-9 planes, which according to the company would help in expanding the network of its international routes under its proposed agreement with Spanish Carrier Iberia and British Airways.

American is the biggest airline across the globe in terms of traffic. The airline has confirmed that between 2012 and 2018, it would take delivery of 42 787-9s. In addition, the carrier also took purchase rights for 58 more 787s to be delivered between 2015 and 2020. Following its rivals Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines, American is just the third major carrier based in the US to order for 787s.