United Airlines on Tuesday said it will purchase up to 200 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners in what will be the largest-ever widebody aircraft order by a U.S. carrier in aviation history.
The announcement includes a firm order for 100 Dreamliners, plus options for an additional 100.
Additionally, the Chicago-based carrier will exercise options to purchase 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft – 44 of which it already had an option to purchase, and 56 new orders.
The order represents a huge acceleration in growth for United and a welcome vote of confidence for Boeing, which has seen its fair share of problems with both aircraft types in recent years.
United Expects 700 New Aircraft in its Fleet by 2032
The massive order announced Tuesday positions United for an ambitious fleet modernization and growth plan the carrier is calling United Next.
Deliveries of the new Dreamliners will take place between 2024 and 2032. United has the option to choose between the 787-8, -9, or -10 variants, according to a press release from the company.
The Boeing 737 MAX order will include 44 new aircraft slated for delivery between 2024 and 2026 and 56 aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028.
With the new aircraft from this order, a staggering 700 new aircraft are set to join United’s fleet by the end of 2032. The carrier expects to receive two aircraft per week beginning in 2023, increasing to three per week by 2024.
CEO Scott Kirby: We are America’s Flag Carrier
With so many new widebodies joining the fleet, United will be able to retire its aging Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. The carrier plans to phase out 767 operations by 2030.
United CEO Scott Kirby says the order helps position his airline ahead of the pack in the post-COVID aviation world.
“United emerged from the pandemic as the world’s leading global airline and the flag carrier of the United States,” said 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.”
The modernization of United’s fleet will also help accelerate its efforts to become a more sustainable airline. With new engines, the use of lightweight composite materials, and improved aerodynamics, the Boeing 787 will lead to a 25 percent decrease in carbon emissions per seat once United’s fleet modernization is complete. In addition, the noise footprint of the 787 is over 60 percent smaller than the aircraft it will replace.
The company has set a goal of being a 100 percent green airline by 2050.
The Dreamliner Order is a Continuation of United’s Aggressive Post-COVID International Growth
The massive aircraft order is just another chapter in United’s aggressive post-COVID growth strategy.
In just the last two years, the carrier has added 13 new international destinations, 40 new international routes, and added frequency to ten existing international routes. Less than two months ago, United unveiled three new international gateways for summer 2023: Málaga, Spain (AGP); Stockholm, Sweden (ARN); and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB).
Next summer, United will operate 37 transatlantic routes and 20 transpacific routes – more than any other US carrier.
Along with the addition of new aircraft, United is committed to upgrading the customer experience on its existing fleet. By the end of 2023, all United widebody aircraft will feature its Polaris business-class product, as well as new Premium Plus seating.
In addition, United is in the process of upgrading the interiors of every one of its mainline, narrow-body aircraft by the end of 2025.
Neither Boeing nor United gave any indication as to what the carrier will pay for the gigantic order; however, list prices value the order at more than $37 billion.
And as for its oft-pushed-back order of 45 Airbus A350-900s – well, United says the order remains on the books – for now.