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Home » United Airlines » United Airlines CEO Previews Large Widebody Aircraft Order
NewsUnited Airlines

United Airlines CEO Previews Large Widebody Aircraft Order

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 14, 2022November 13, 2023 17 Comments

a blueprint of an airplane

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has confirmed rumors that United is preparing to place a huge order for widebody jets.

In This Post:

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  • Report: United Airlines Is Planning A Large Widebody Aircraft Order
    • United’s Aging Widebody Fleet
    • What Widebody Aircraft Is United Airlines Looking At?
    • CONCLUSION

Report: United Airlines Is Planning A Large Widebody Aircraft Order

Speaking recently in Denver, Kirby told pilots United is planning for a “triple-digit” order, studying both Airbus and Boeing options, and may announce an order as early as December 2022. The news was first reported by Bloomberg and also confirmed by Live and Let’s Fly.

Kirby did not exactly let the cat out of the bag, though it marks the clearest and highest level confirmation that United is shopping for new aircraft. For the last year, I’ve heard rumors about United’s wish to update its longhaul fleet, even if deliveries are many years away.

United’s Aging Widebody Fleet

United has an all-Boeing fleet of widebody aircraft including the Boeing 767-300, 767-400, 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10. While its 787 Dreamliners are young (and United still has seven on order), the average age of its entire aircraft widebody fleet is 20 years, with 128 planes more than 20 years old. United was the launch customer of the 777 and some of its aircraft date back to 1995, with an average age of 19.2 years (only because the 777-300ER sub-fleet averages less than five years old). Its 767-300 fleet averages 26.7 years.

As planes hit this age range, heavy maintenance requirements begin to push up operating costs. While United may be at that point already, United’s recognition that its older 767 and 777 aircraft are aging is hardly a surprise.

What Widebody Aircraft Is United Airlines Looking At?

While details have not leaked as to what aircraft is under consideration, my prediction (which is purely speculation) is that United is trying to work out a deal with Boeing to replace its older 777-200s with either the next generation of 777 jets or more 787 Dreamliners. Heck, even Kirby’s “triple” digit quip is such a classic Kirby way of previewing what may be to come (the 777 is often called the triple seven). It is my understanding that the 777 has not been ruled out, despite extreme production delays.

I would never discount the possibility of United purchasing Airbus A330 or A350 aircraft, but United seems hesitant to diversify its widebody fleet beyond Boeing. You might recall that United placed an order for 25 Airbus A350-900 aircraft in 2017. But in 2019, deliveries were deferred until 2027 “to better align with the carrier’s operational needs.”

Then again, Airbus may be able to leverage a widebody deal through incentives including accelerated deliveries not only of a widebody jet, but of the 50 Airbus A321XLR United has on order.

Of course adding more Dreamliners and keeping the longhaual fleet efficient may make the most sense of all.

While I personally would love to see some Airbus wide bodies take to the skies for United, my prediction is on the 777X or more 787 to replace the older 777-200s. The 767-300 is one of my favorite aircraft, but with a capacity roughly identical to a Dreamliner, I am not persuaded United is trying to convince Boeing to resurrect that aircraft type with a new model. More likely, we will see more Dreamliners.

CONCLUSION

United CEO Scott Kirby has confirmed that United is closely studying a new widebody aircraft order. While an order may be around the corner, deliveries are several years away. My hunch is that United will stick with Boeing and update its older 777 fleet with a new generation of 777 aircraft or more 787s.

What do you think United is leaning toward for its new widebody aircraft order?


image: United

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Derek Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 9:58 am

    will the 777X actually fly?

    • Dave Reply
      October 15, 2022 at 8:55 am

      It already has EICAS and it meets latests standards unlike the MAX, so I’m at least betting the 777x won’t get cancelled.

  2. Gravelly Point Guy Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 11:09 am

    Matthew, 2 things, first of all, please be careful with your facts. United has a total wide body actual fleet count of 229 aircraft, not 129. Second, this order is a net increase order. The only plane getting scrapped is the 767-300 sub fleet , the -400 is being reconfigured with Polaris as we speak. The 777-200 ER sub fleet and 777-300 sub fleets stay. Those are at least 10 years away from replacement and will be replaced with the 777-X sub fleet. All in all, this is a NET INCREASE ORDER of at least 60 new wide bodies. Boom! Boom! Boom! The likes of JFK, LAX and South Florida beware, they’re coming after you. And, that being said, congratulations to you too, I know stuff like this puts a smile on your face!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 14, 2022 at 11:41 am

      @Gravelly Point Guy, what I meant was that 128 aircraft are over 20 years old.

      • Gravelly Point Guy Reply
        October 14, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        Dully noted, thanks.

    • Dave Reply
      October 14, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      some of their 300s will also get reconfigured, and they are the oldest of 763s

  3. Proschwitz Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 11:21 am

    United can no longer afford to wait for Boeing’s MOM 797. I think they will order 787-8s as a replacement for their aging 767-300 fleet, and they will order 787-10s as a replacement for their 777-200 nonERs,

    • Gravelly Point Guy Reply
      October 14, 2022 at 11:36 am

      No-8’s, only 787-9 and -10.

  4. Jared Houser Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    I wish United would make transcon routes exclusively wide body but doesn’t seem like that will happen.

    I also agree with Gravelly Point Guy, I think ultimately United wants more plans to grow, not necessarily to retire 100+ planes. If you look at their recent international expansion, there are still so many markers that they could launch, they simply need more planes.

  5. Paper Boarding Pass Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    One of the deadly sins of airlines is excess capacity; airframes sitting around under utilized.
    The order is more of culling older wide bodies (B767 300 & 400) and original B777-200. If Boeing can get its act together, United should focus on Dreamliners (-8, -9, -10). Let them be the backbone of the fleet like the B767 was in the 90’s and 00’s and into the 10’s. Distance, efficiency, and flight deck standardization are key benefits which leads to massive leverage of the Dreamliner fleet.
    Not sure the 777x has any great benefits. Bigger is not always better and don’t want to end up like Pan Am with far flung operations half way around the world that hinder efficiency. Let the Star Alliance work for its living.

  6. Airfarer Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    No more 67s please. I now try and avoid the 767 whenever possible. Damn difficult with UA. I find the 787 and 350 so much more comfortable after a long flight.

  7. Michael Reply
    October 14, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    I’m not a fan of Airbus….I’m 6’4″, and as a tall man I find Airbus planes really cramped and uncomfortable. Having said that, I am a fan of the Boeing wide bodies….especially the 787. I’ll pay more to fly it or any other wide body over the Boeing 737 Max any day. The Max has to be my least favorite plane flying right now. They are just awful.

    • James Harper Reply
      October 15, 2022 at 9:45 am

      The configuration is nothing to do with the aircraft but the airline that fits it out. Strange though you find the Airbus cramped when the A320 series is wider than the 737 and the A350 is wider than the 787 and the A330 while not wider than the 787 will not fit 3-3-3 seating and as such is more spacious.

      Each to their own though.

  8. James Harper Reply
    October 15, 2022 at 9:46 am

    So United might order the A338, A339, A359 and A35K to totally update their long haul fleet? They would fit well with their order for A21Ns.

    Oh, I’ve just seen a pig fly past the window. There’s no chance that this order will go anywhere other than to Boeing.

  9. Mark Reply
    October 15, 2022 at 6:06 pm

    “The news was first reported by Bloomberg and also confirmed by Live and Let’s Fly.”

    Lol I am glad Live and Let’s Fly confirmed the report. I was skeptical of the Bloomberg reporting.

  10. Mark Benjamin Lewis Reply
    October 15, 2022 at 8:36 pm

    A350 please. 787’s are getting too boring. Plus United’s interiors and products are very dim. Come on who uses ugly dark blue seats without any cushions for 16-18 hours of flight yikes!
    Love the A380 and A350

  11. Dave Reply
    October 16, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    In other UA news, N27958 is their last Dreamliner with the old configuration, and it’s scheduled to do one of those UA2XXX flights on the 18th, so it will get Polaris soon.

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