United places large orders with Airbus and Boeing

United Airlines has announced that it has converted options and purchase rights into new firm orders. With Airbus, the airline ordered 60 additional Airbus A321neos, as well as options on another 40. Boeing could write down a firm order for 50 B787-9s, with options on another 50. Deliveries of the Airbuses is scheduled between 2028 and 2030, while the Dreamliners should be delivered between 2028 and 2031.

The airline is planning to renew and expand its fleet and now has a total of more than 700 new aircraft on order for delivery between 2023 and the end of 2032. With Boeing, United has 370 B737MAXs on order, as well as 150 B787s. With Airbus, it has 180 A321neos and, officially, 45 A350-900s on order. The latter order has, however, been pushbacked for many years and this latest additional Dreamliner-order begs the question if United will keep them.

In the coming weeks, United will take delivery of its first A321-200NX. The Airbus, currently registered D-AXXH (11500) is almost ready for delivery from the Hamburg-Finkenwerder site and will become N44501.

Photo by United Airlines.