American expected to order widebodies after Airbus and Boeing talks

An American 777 captain spent weeks on the 777X at Boeing's training center in England and later flew a segment from Spokane to Boeing Field, One Mile at a Time reports. American is expected to place a widebody order soon after talks with Airbus and Boeing. The captain described the assignment as a rare chance to help train future pilots and said she will likely have stopped flying by the time the jet arrives.

Airlines often send a few pilots to try a new type before ordering, especially when the jet is still uncertified. The visit could also have been a Boeing sales pitch or help with crew training as certification nears. The 777X has been seen as an unlikely fit because it is larger than U.S. carriers typically want for split-hub networks. An A330-900neo or 787-10 is viewed as more probable. Any order could be aimed at the 2030s, after the captain retires.

A 777X order would be a larger long-haul jet than expected for American's network and could eventually change how the airline flies international routes. Treat this as unconfirmed speculation to watch, because no order has been announced.