As anticipated last Monday (28), United acquired 270 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus in an order valued at $30 billion. This morning, the North American company released details of the purchase: there will be 200 Boeing 737 MAX, 150 of which will be 737-10, the largest of the family and which made its first flight on the 18th of this month, and the rest of the 737-8 model. The contract with the European manufacturer Airbus comprises 70 A321XLR aircraft, complementing an order for 50 units of the model, bringing the total number of aircraft purchased from Airbus to 120. The purchase of aircraft announced today includes a total of 270 aircraft.
“The purchase increases United's fleet to 380 fuel-efficient single-aisle family aircraft, including 30 that have already been delivered. The airline was the first in the world to order the 737-10, in 2017, when it converted 100 orders from the 737-9 to the larger model. Today's agreement also includes the purchase of Boeing 737 MAX training simulator data packages to United's pilot training programs.", explained the company in a statement released this Tuesday morning.
According to AirFleets website, the company currently operates 43 737-700 aircraft, plus 141 of the 737-800 version and 148 of the 737-900 version. These are expected to be directly replaced by the 737 MAX in the coming years, along with 175 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family. The Boeing 757 family planes, in turn, should be replaced by the Airbus A321neo. United currently has 50 orders for the A321XLR, and plans to expand orders, according to sources consulted by Bloomberg.
“Such a significant order from a major airline such as United underscores that the A321neo offers unparalleled capabilities, operating economics and enger ease of use”, said Christian Scherer, Commercial Director and International Director of Airbus, in a press release.
“No other aircraft can do what the A321neo can do, and the Airbus team is delighted with United's strong assertion of its status. The A321neo will complement United's future A321XLR aircraft, tly creating a segment in its own right."
