American Air buys 42 Boeing 787s Dreamliners worth €6 billion

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines said it would buy 42 Boeing Co 787 Dreamliners, worth more than €6 billion at list prices.

The order is a boost for Boeing. Orders for its commercial aircraft have slowed sharply as airlines worry about an economic downturn and production delays on the new lightweight, fuel-efficient 787.

Boeing's aircraft assembly workers have also been on strike for more than a month, adding further uncertainty to when 787s will be delivered.

Airlines have now ordered more than 900 787s, but most will have to wait two years or longer than they first expected to receive their planes after a series of production delays caused by underperforming suppliers and parts shortages.

American, the world's biggest airline by traffic, said it would take delivery of its 42 787-9s between 2012 and 2018, and took out purchase rights on a further 58 787s that would be delivered between 2015 and 2020.