American Airlines sticking with jet delivery schedule: CEO

(Reuters) – American Airlines Group Inc is sticking with its aircraft delivery schedule and will reduce its fleet to closer match a sharp drop in travel demand due to the coronavirus through early jet retirements rather than delivery deferrals like other airlines, Chief Executive Doug Parker told Reuters.

American said earlier it is accelerating the retirement of aircraft, including A330-300s. The retirements were reported by Reuters in March.

Following the retirements, Parker said the airline will have around 100 fewer jets in the summer of 2021 than it had planned.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski and David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)