Chicago-based air carrier United Airlines is nearing an order for more than 100 wide-body jets, its largest-ever aircraft order.
The potential new order is expected to include both Boeing and Airbus-produced planes, particularly the Boeing 787 Dreamliners and A350s, people briefed on the matter disclosed to Bloomberg on October 14, 2022.
However, how many planes will be purchased from Boeing and how many will come from Airbus has not yet been announced.
The recent news follows United Airlines chief executive’s Scott Kirby plan to expand the airline’s wide-body fleet, Bloomberg said. The CEO has already briefed pilots that the air carrier aims to upgrade with a “triple-digit” order of large jets, almost the size of the carrier’s current wide-body fleet.
United Airlines currently operates a total of 851 aircraft, most of which are narrow-body jets. The fleet consists of 88 Airbus A319s and 99 A320s, as well as 390 Boeing 737 family jets and 40 Boeing 757 family aircraft. United’s wide-body fleet comprises 53 Boeing 767s, 96 Boeing 777s, and 64 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Planespotters.com data indicates.
The major US airline has already expanded its narrow-body fleet with an order for 270 Boeing and Airbus planes. The huge order was placed in June 2021 and consisted of 200 Boeing 737 MAXs – 50 MAX 8s and 150 larger MAX 10 variants, alongside a further 70 A321neo planes.
The new order for wide-body aircraft is expected to be officially placed by the end of 2022.