UPDATE: Live and Let’s Fly has independently learned that United Airlines will announce its new Boeing order at a ceremony with United CEO Scott Kirby and Boeing CEO Stan Deal at the Boeing plant that produces 787 Dreamliners on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
Multiple news agencies are reporting that United Airlines is close to finalizing a deal that would add dozens of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to its fleet.
United Airlines On Cusp Of 787 Deal With Boeing
In October, news broke that United was preparing to announce a new widebody jet order from either Airbus or Boeing, with 100 aircraft rumored to be purchased. That deal still has not been announced, but a flurry of sources this week have suggested a trimmed-down deal is near.
Boeing has finally restarted its 787 production after months of regulatory delays but is still not back to full production capacity. Over time, it hopes to increase production to five aircraft per month. Boeing faces a backlog of over 400 Dreamliner aircraft.
While both Boeing and United declined to comment on the deal, sources tell Live and Let’s Fly that a deal is imminent.
The Wall Street Journal reports that “dozens” of aircraft will be ordered, but the number I keep hearing is 100.
United is looking to replace its aging 767 fleet in the years ahead, of which it has 30 767-300 and 12 767-400 aircraft in service. These aircraft experience operational issues at a higher rate than other aircraft, prompting the move to replace them.
> Read More: United Airlines CEO Previews Large Widebody Aircraft Order
While I still hold out a sliver of hope that United is considering the 777-9 aircraft as part of its long-term fleet renewal plan, it would not surprise me (and would make logical sense) if United simply stuck to one aircraft for its widebody service. With three variants of the 787 (the -8, -9, and -10) there is ample flexibility for United’s longhaul needs around the world.
CONCLUSION
We heard strong rumors of an impending aircraft order in October that never happened and now we are hearing rumblings again. United Airlines is expected to announce a deal for more Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the days ahead. Will it happen this time? We will all be watching.
The B767 is 25 years old on average…getting to the back end of its life cycle as a PAX airframe. However, the B777 is 19 years old on average and nearing significant C & D checks. Might be wise to stock up on B787 to rationalize the fleet.
Frequency and point to point are the mantra of airlines today, not how many passengers can you stuff on board on one airframe. As an example, airlines have abandoned B747 and B380s in droves and the Widget stepped away from its B777 fleet during COVID.
Bigger is not always better.
UA was the launch customer for the 777-200, which entered revenue service in 1995, though deliveries stretched into the late 1990s/early 2000s and then combined with the PMCO fleet of 777s, delivered between 1998 and 2002. The 767-300ERs at UA, except for the handful it got from HA, were built and delivered in the early to mid-1990s, with a top up order in the early 2000s. Combined these planes are getting long in the tooth, though UA overhauled them nose to tail. The logical replacement at this point is the 787. UA will not order the 777-9 and if it ever does, it will already be well into service.
I like this deal, even though I’m not a primarily UA flyer. 787s are still comfy (for me, in Y), and we gotta keep Airbus honest. Also looking forward to 777x’s but I don’t think even that will restore the former glamour of 747s and even A380s.
Boeing stock has been moving higher recently for multiple reasons but I’m sure a few knew this was coming and made money off it. Illegal or not, it’s how the world works.
I hope quality won’t be compromised at five aircraft per month. Downfall was very eye opening. Investigators reveal how Boeing’s alleged priority of profit over safety could have contributed to two catastrophic crashes within months of each other: https://www.netflix.com/title/81272421
Grow up, everyone knows that story and doesn’t need a link to a biased documentary. And about that “hope” of yours, take that hope and put it in one hand and take a sh#t in the other and see which one fills up first.
I found it well researched and thought the WSJ reporter did a good job presenting the info. Didn’t find it biased. My parents liked the documentary and many have not seen it, so not everyone knows it.
Wow Dave, you must feel like such a big man talking feisty like that to strangers on the internet! Teach me to be cool like you!
I have a question about the United 787. On Friday Dec 2 a 787-10 departed LAX to SYD. The range of a 787-10 is only 7,400 miles but the distance from LAX to SYD is 7,502 miles. How could this be happening?
It must have been refueled mid-air by the just-launched B21…
I do wish A330neo/A350s were ordered, but it probably makes more sense for United to just buy more 787s for efficiency. As long as there isn’t later a problem which affects 787s, as Norwegian found out the hard way…
The problem that Norwegian faced with their 787 was the fault of Rolls Roycer designed the engines
I won’t be wishing for A350s since the NPS version allows for more 10-abreast A350s in service
The range is based on a full payload. If the payload is reduced you can add additional fuel for the greater range
IMO, the Boeing 787 is the most comfortable airplane in the air today, and I fly UA exclusively so I hope this rumor becomes fact.
they must be due to the humidity levels alone.. https://thepointsguy.com/news/the-healthiest-planes-in-the-air-today/
Does this mean they’re canceling the a350 order on Tuesday?
We can only hope. We’ve been waiting for it for so long it’s become painful. Now I know what it’s like for fundie Christians waiting for the Second Coming.
No Jared, there’s this rumor out there that Airbus would be willing to forfeit the A350 contract and instead swap the A350 for additional A321NEO’s. Meaning, United would commit itself to acquire more A321NEO’s on top of the already existing order for 70 of these aircrafts. This was first floated by Bloomberg news services, let’s see what really happens on Tuesday.
Might be a consideration that a 787 is 20% more fuel efficient than any comparable aircraft, and also there has never been a 787 lost in a crash.