United Airlines is betting on itself.
Or rather, United is betting on the industry.
The carrier has placed a huge order with both major airplane manufacturers in a wager that the travel demand will continue and the new airplanes will be put to good use.
In all, United has ordered 110 jets from both Airbus and Boeing.
Delivery of the new planes will start in 2028. The gamble, of course, is that the demand for travel will last that long.
But the new aircraft are not just for the travel demand. United also said that it will help mitigate the logjam of planes that have plagued the airline, especially at Newark Liberty International Airport.
United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said: "In the future, United will increasingly turn to global growth to expand."
The breakdown is as follows: 50 Boeing 787-9s and 60 Airbus A321neos. Delivery of all planes is expected between 2028 and 2031. The company also has orders for 50 more Boeing planes and the purchase rights to 40 more Airbus jets.
International travel has still accounted for almost 40 percent of United's revenue this year. This is the second major airplane order for the carrier in less than a year. Ten months ago, it ordered almost 200 planes, including 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
“United’s unprecedented commitment to the 787 Dreamliner family is a testament to the market-leading operating economics and reliability of Boeing’s widebody jets,” said Stan Deal, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
If all that sounds like a lot of planes, there is a sense of urgency among the airlines as airplane manufacturers have a deep backlog. One executive said the manufacturers were "significantly" behind schedule.
But much of this is still contingent upon traveling demand and that the U.S. doesn’t fall into a recession.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
