United Just Made a Huge Order for Boeing Wide-Body Aircraft—Implications for Future United Flights

On Tuesday, United Airlines announced that it has placed an order for 100 wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the option to acquire another 100, totaling 200. United can choose among the 787-8, 9, or 10 models, and the delivery of these aircraft will take place over eight years, from 2024 to 2032.

This announcement follows Boeing's recent clearance from federal regulators in July, enabling the company to resume deliveries of the 787, which had faced several production challenges since late 2020.

United's 787s, accommodating between 248 and 336 passengers, will offer four service classes: United Polaris business class, United Premium Plus, Economy Plus, and economy. The most desirable option is the United Polaris business-class seats, which provide aisle access and amenities like Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, Away amenity kits, 16-inch seatback screens, and noise-canceling headphones. For long-haul flights, United Premium Plus seats represent a significant upgrade, featuring a six-inch recline and 13-inch seatback screens.

United is not only acquiring new planes; it is also moving forward with enhancing the interiors of its current fleet. By summer 2023, the airline aims to install United Polaris business-class seats and United Premium Plus seating on all its international wide-body aircraft. Additionally, all of United's mainline narrow-body planes will receive interior updates by 2025.

Alongside the 787 Dreamliners, United has the option to acquire 44 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2026, plus an additional 56 Boeing 737 Max planes set to arrive between 2027 and 2028. The Boeing 737 Max was cleared to return to service in late 2020 after a two-year grounding.

With its new commitments for Boeing aircraft, United is set to receive around 700 new planes by the end of 2032, encompassing both narrow-body and wide-body models. The delivery schedule will be particularly brisk over the next two years, with United expecting to take delivery of more than two aircraft weekly in 2023, and averaging over three planes per week in 2024.

What are United's plans for all these new aircraft?

Sustainable, eco-friendly flying

The positive aspect is that with the introduction of these new aircraft, United will phase out older, less efficient models. According to Boeing, the 787 Dreamliners achieve a 25% reduction in carbon emissions per seat compared to the planes they replace, thanks to advancements in engine technology, lighter materials, optimized operating systems, and enhanced aerodynamic designs. Additionally, the 787s operate much more quietly than their predecessors.

Approximately 100 older Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft will be retired in favor of new wide-body models, with United aiming to completely eliminate its 767 fleet by 2030.

Utilizing more efficient aircraft will aid United in its ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, a target shared by all major U.S. airlines. Key strategies to reach this objective include significant investments in sustainable aviation fuel and carbon capture technologies.

Broadened international flight options

The addition of more wide-body aircraft will lead to new international routes, though the specific destinations are still to be determined. United has stated its intention to "continue expanding its global network."

While United has not disclosed specific plans for its new aircraft, it has highlighted its focus on "strategic gateways to international locations across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Latin America."

In the last two years, United has introduced 13 new international destinations and 40 fresh international routes. By summer 2023, the airline will offer nonstop flights to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, India, and the Middle East, along with 20 transpacific routes starting in 2023. Notable new routes include flights to Japan from Newark International Airport (to Haneda) and the revival of service from San Francisco to Osaka. Additionally, United will commence a new nonstop route between Newark and Dubai in March, thanks to a partnership with Emirates.

What about the issue of staffing shortages?

With the influx of new aircraft and the airline industry grappling with significant staffing shortages this year as travel surged, how does United plan to recruit enough crew and staff to manage this expanded capacity?

The airline reported that it has onboarded 15,000 new employees this year and aims to hire an additional 15,000 in 2023.

"United is experiencing significant interest in pilot positions from both military and civilian sectors, as well as from other airlines. In 2022, the airline recruited around 2,400 pilots and intends to add over 2,500 more in 2023, aiming for a total of 10,000 pilots by the end of this decade," stated United.

Earlier this year, United established the new United Aviate Academy, aiming to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030, with a commitment to ensuring that half of the trainees are women or individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The airline also plans to recruit over 4,000 flight attendants in 2023 and is expanding its hiring for aircraft mechanics, technicians, customer service agents, and gate personnel.

Reporting contributed by the Associated Press.