increased competition from regional jets manufactured by bombardier and embraer took a heavy toll on sales during the airline slump after 2001. american airlines acquired twa and initially planned to continue the 717 order. american airlines cancelled twa's order for airbus a318s, but eventually also cancelled the boeing 717s that had not yet been delivered. the beginning of the end came in december 2003 when boeing failed to reach a us$2.7 billion contract from air canada, a long term dc-9 customer, who chose the embraer e-jets and bombardier crj200 over the 717. in january 2005, citing slow sales, boeing announced that it planned to end production of the 717 after it had met all of its outstanding orders.