The size of this deal makes it the biggest widebody contract in American aviation history. Furthermore, it is the biggest Boeing 787 order in history. Up to 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with an additional 100 options, were officially ordered by United Airlines. In addition, United placed a second order for 56 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after exercising its option to purchase 44 of them.
This brings the total number of brand-new aircraft that United has currently ordered to beyond 700. However, it was not made explicit how many of each variant will be included in this order. 551 of the 716 aircraft in this backlog are 446 B737 MAX and 105 B787
Additionally, United has an unfulfilled order from Airbus for 70 A321neo, 50 A321XLR, and 45 A350-900 aircraft.
“United emerged from the pandemic as the world’s leading global airline and the flag carrier of the United States,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “This order further solidifies our lead and creates new opportunities for our customers, employees and shareholders by accelerating our plan to connect more people to more places around the globe and deliver the best experience in the sky.”
“With this investment in its future fleet, the 737 MAX and 787 will help United accelerate its fleet modernization and global growth strategy,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The Boeing team is honored by United’s trust in our family of airplanes to connect people and transport cargo around the world for decades to come.”
Replacing the old planes
The airline’s fleet’s outdated Boeing 767s and 777s will be replaced by the brand-new Boeing 787 aircraft. 53 Boeing 767 aircraft, a mixture of 767-300ER and 767-400ER, are still in service with United. The airline’s 757s are to be replaced by the 737 MAX 10 and A321XLR.
In terms of efficiency and flexibility, the 787 Dreamliner offers United an extensive network of domestic and international flights with unmatched capabilities. Depending on the configuration, the 787 also boasts an impressive 25% reduction in fuel consumption when compared to the aircraft it replaces.
In the single-aisle market, the 737 MAX family is intended to provide enhanced reliability and improved fuel efficiency. Depending on the configuration, the 737 MAX reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20% in comparison to the aircraft it replaces.
Given the size of this order, delivery of these aircraft may begin in 2024 and continue until 2032. Although the variants have not been disclosed, I can see more 787-10 joining the fleet in place of the 777-200 and 767-400ER.
United now operates a Boeing 787 fleet of twelve 787-8, thirty eight 787-9, and sixteen 787-10.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
