Husch Blackwell represented American Airlines in its high-profile order of 47 new Boeing 787 widebody aircraft, a complex transaction at the center of American’s strategy to revamp and simplify its existing fleet of long-haul aircraft. The order consists of 22 Boeing 787-8s scheduled to begin arriving in 2020 and 25 Boeing 787-9s scheduled to begin arriving in 2023. The 787-8s will replace American’s Boeing 767-300s, while later 787-9 deliveries will replace Airbus A330-300s and older Boeing 777-200 widebody aircraft. The entire order of new 787s will be powered with General Electric’s GEnx-1B engines.
Husch Blackwell’s representation included the negotiation and finalization of all relevant documentation for the 787 aircraft order and the deferral of 40 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft previously scheduled to arrive between 2020 and 2022; negotiations with competing engine suppliers; the negotiation and documenting of a comprehensive long -term engine maintenance agreement; the coordination and collaboration with other American Airline counsel with respect to related financing and leasing commitments; and an agreement with Airbus to terminate American’s order for 22 A350s, which was originally placed by US Airways prior to that airline’s merger with American in 2013.
The Husch Blackwell team was led by David Agee and included Amanda Tummons, Buffey Klein, Lauren Hawkins, Matt Schneider, Chris Sundberg, Whitney Smith, Nathan Stech and Jason Reschly.
For more information regarding the transaction, consult American Airlines’ press release.