We knew that United Airlines was going to place a wide body aircraft order today, and we now have all the details. There’s even a bit more to the announcement than we were expecting.
United orders more Boeing 787 Dreamliners
United has just announced an order for up to 200 Boeing 787s, including 100 firm orders and 100 options. This is the largest wide body aircraft order by a US airline in commercial aviation history. United is expected to take delivery of these planes between 2024 and 2032. Furthermore, United has flexibility as to what combination of Boeing 787 variants it picks up, so these could include the -8, -9, and/or -10.
100 of these Boeing 787s will be used to replace older aircraft in United’s fleet, including Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s. United will remove the 767 from its fleet by 2030, resulting in up to an expected 25% decrease in carbon emissions per seat.
United had been trying to decide between the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, and clearly Boeing won out. United already has an all-Boeing wide body fleet. The airline flies 767-300ERs, 767-400ERs, 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs, 787-8s, 787-9s, and 787-10s. The 767s are an average of 24 years old, the 777s are an average of 18 years old, and the 787s are an average of five years old, so it makes sense how those 767s and 777s will eventually be replaced.
United currently has roughly 66 Boeing 787s in its fleet, and prior to this new order, only had roughly a handful remaining in its order book.
United orders more Boeing 737 MAXs
In addition to the Boeing 787 order, United has also ordered up to 100 Boeing 737 MAXs. The airline has exercised 44 options for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from a previous order, plus has placed a new order for 56 additional Boeing 737 MAXs. 44 of those planes will join United’s fleet between 2024 and 2026, while 56 of those planes will join United’s fleet between 2027 and 2028.
United already has the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 in its fleet. The airline also has Boeing 737 MAX 10s on order, but that plane is still awaiting certification.
When you combine all of United’s outstanding aircraft orders, the airline plans to take delivery of around 700 new aircraft by the end of 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023, and more than three every week in 2024.
United is also updating all of its narrow body interiors with personal televisions and other cool features, and it’s expected that the entire narrow body fleet will feature these interiors by the end of 2025.
Bottom line
United Airlines has placed a huge order with Boeing. This includes up to 200 Boeing 787s (100 firm orders and 100 option), plus up to 100 Boeing 737 MAXs (44 were previous options, while 56 are part of a new order). I don’t think there’s anything too surprising here. United was nearing the end of its wide body order book, so we knew something had to be ordered.
What do you make of United’s order with Boeing?
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