American Airlines unveiled its special America250 commemorative aircraft on Wednesday, honoring the 250th anniversary of American independence and “the nation’s enduring spirit of innovation, resilience and connection.”
The Embraer E-175 regional jet, registered as N341MB, was delivered to the airline last month and will fly their inaugural return from Miami to Caracas, Venezuela on Thursday.
Wait – they selected a Brazilian regional jet rather than one of their more than 500 Boeing planes to honor America’s spirit and innovation? Here’s this very aircraft traveling from Brazil to Texas a month ago.
American Airlines revealed the aircraft at an event in Dallas on Wednesday with CEO Robert Isom and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Now, at the beginning of last month, American said they would actually paint two aircraft although they did not specify the planes. In announcing that one of the planes would be theirs (the E-175 regional jet), Envoy Air said the other would be a Boeing 737.
So perhaps American will ultimately have a Boeing plane as well. I’ve found a claim that the aircraft will be N917NN, which would mean repainting the Aircal heritage livery. I’m not sure that makes sense.
Let me give launching this with the Brazilian plane the best argument possible: American Airlines is celebrating America the way airlines actually work – through networks, alliances, international supply chains, and aircraft that connect smaller American communities to the global economy.
An Embraer 175 flying under the America250 banner is globalization, drawing from the world and connecting Americans to the world. The Brazilian jet is operated by American’s wholly owned regional carrier Envoy Air, making it possible for American passengers and visitors alike to stay connected to the world. And in using G.E. engines it’s part of an interconnected global economy that’s part of industrial production here, too.
But still, if you are going to wrap an airplane in America250 branding and talk about American “spirit,” “innovation,” and national pride, maybe the first question in the meeting should have been, “Which airplane are we putting this on?” Because nothing says “250 years of American independence” quite like a Brazilian regional jet. And nothing says “American innovation” like outsourcing the airplane to São José dos Campos.
I choose to believe that this is a subtle rebuke to economic nationalism and not the funniest possible aircraft selection mistake. Either way, the irony is tariff-free.
Nice paint! Oh please… Embraer (E175) is a fine aircraft. Sure, E2 would’ve been even better. Besides, there’s a MRO facility in Fort Worth, Texas, anyway. Happy 250th, regardless!
So Isom got a Brazilian as a birthday present?
@Christian — Zing!
@Christian – no more calls, folks!
This is silly. American Airlines celebrating its “American-ness” is a good thing. For instance, they’re flying that America250 plane on its inaugural flight today for the first US-Venezuela flight in 7 years. The flight calls for an E175. If they didn’t paint the 175, they would have had to fly a non-festive plane. Meanwhile, AA flies a lot of A321s — many of those assembled in America. Would those be OK for these commemorative airplanes? Who would care? I don’t see a real problem here. I’m glad they’re painting some anniversary planes.
Majority of components and avionics are American made. The plane is basically just assembled in Brazil, which does in any way take away the merits of Embraer developing a very fine airplane.
If we’re talking about innovation, I think an Embraer RJ is way more innovative than a 737 which, from the passenger’s perspective, hasn’t really changed in 42 years.
Southwest Airlines’ “America 250” livery, dubbed Independence One, is 20x better looking.
The 737 will be N953NN. It’s currently in TUL for heavy check and will get the wrap when it’s done in few weeks.
Nothing says Like just saying.
Just another in an endless string of tone-deaf moves by clueless management!