American Airlines orders the new Boeing 777-300ER.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsv_50C2yQE
A Boeing 777-300ER assembled in less than 5 minutes.

American Airlines will be the United States launch customer for the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The new 777-300ER will be the largest twin-engine, long-range, commercial jetliner when it enters service, capable of flying 7,930 nautical miles or, more importantly since AAdvantage Miles appear to be calculated using statute miles, it will be able to fly 9,125 AAdvantage Miles.

From the American Airlines press release:

“These additional widebody aircraft will bolster our network strategy, particularly the international growth opportunities we expect from our joint businesses with oneworld partners in the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific markets,” said Tom Horton, President, AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle. “We value the combination of size, range and performance of the 777-300ER, as well as the extensive customer amenities it offers. The seating capability of the aircraft will give us growth flexibility in slot-constrained airports and provide us with greater ability to serve new long-haul markets.”

The new 777-300ER is one of the two latest versions of the 777 aircraft family. From the Boeing website:

The 777-300ER extends the 777 family’s span of capabilities, bringing twin-engine efficiency and reliability to the long-range market. The airplane carries 365 passengers up to 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km).

The first 777-300ER was delivered to Air France in 2004 and as of September 2010 it has become the best selling version of the 777, outselling the successful 777-200ER.

This is good news. The new plane doesn’t replace any of the aircraft that American already has in service, so hopefully this means that they are expecting growth and to add to markets. Delivery is expected in late 2012.