The aftermath of the pandemic seems to have finally faded away: The aviation industry is back on the rise. This was made clear this week by a mega-order that American Airlines has placed with multiple manufacturers.

American Airlines expands and restructures fleet In total, the airline wants to have 260 new aircraft for its fleet and has placed orders for various models with Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. In addition, the traditional airline has secured options and purchase rights for additional jets, which could potentially add up to more than 450 aircraft.

The focus is on the A321 Neo and the Boeing 737 Max 10, with 85 aircraft ordered for each model, as well as the Embraer E175, for which American Airlines plans to acquire 90 new planes. An additional 43 Embraer aircraft and 75 jets of the Airbus A321 Neo and Boeing 737 Max 10 models are under consideration through options and purchase rights.

Vote of confidence for Boeing: First major order since Alaska incident There is likely a sigh of relief, especially at Boeing: The US aircraft manufacturer is deep in crisis – and ironically, the 737, a decades-long bestseller, is the trigger. After the latest generation of the jet was grounded for 20 months, the revival is not going smoothly either. At the beginning of the year, a brand-new aircraft of the series lost a door cover during takeoff, leaving a huge hole in the cabin wall.

The fact that no one was seriously injured in the incident on an Alaska Airlines flight is more due to a stroke of luck: At the time of the accident, no one was sitting in the seats directly next to the affected area. In a fully booked flight, the consequences would likely have been devastating.

US aviation authority criticizes Boeing’s processes Since then, Boeing has come under increased scrutiny – from authorities, passengers, investors, and airlines alike. In fact, the US aviation authority FAA has repeatedly found defects in its quality checks. Meanwhile, Boeing’s European competitor Airbus is struggling to keep up with orders and is fully booked in its production capacities for years to come.

The fact that American Airlines now trusts both manufacturers – Airbus and Boeing – equally and places identical orders for two directly competing models is seen as a vote of confidence in Boeing during the crisis. This is the first major order for 737 Max aircraft since the incident in January.

Lufthansa with fresh figures on Thursday Investors reacted differently to the news: While Airbus‘ stock rose by a good percent, Boeing’s stock remained flat, and American Airlines saw a decline in the market.

Fresh figures from the aviation industry are expected this week from Lufthansa: Germany’s largest airline will provide insights into its business books on Thursday. Last year, CEO Carsten Spohr already spoke of an excellent development – especially during the main travel season in the summer. Lufthansa was in an existential crisis at the beginning of the pandemic and had to be saved from bankruptcy through government aid. The funds have since been fully repaid and the airline is once again reporting economic success.