Boeing Aviator

Not enough gate space, airspace and airport landings per hour (already maxed out). The only way to grow in EWR and SFO is with larger planes not smaller.

Boeing Aviator

https://aviationweek.com/air-transpo...ibextid=Zxz2cZ

Excerpts.

During a conference call to discuss United’s future widebody fleet, the airline’s CFO Gerry Laderman said the company has entered into an agreement with Airbus to modify the delivery schedule of the aircraft.
It is not the first time deliveries of those widebodies have been pushed back. Laderman stated the A350 deliveries are not scheduled to start until 2030 and added the Airbus widebody was a “really great option” as a 777 replacement.
“But given the age of a good chunk of our 777s, the ultimate decision on what to replace the 777s with in their entirety is something we don’t have to decide right now,” United’s CFO said.
During the time period of the scheduled 787 deliveries, United will have roughly 120 aircraft—its 767s and some 777s—that will reach 30 years of age, Laderman said. The 100 new 787s will replace the 767s and some of the 777s, he confirmed. United has declared all of its 767 should exit its fleet by 2030.

Kirby also concluded the 787 was a better replacement for the 767s because the 787 is smaller, “and the right time for the [A]350 versus the 787s conversation is when we’re replacing the bulk of the 777s, which really doesn’t begin until the end of the decade.”
The airline has 48 777-200ERs and 20 777-300ERs in service. United also operates 17 777-200s. Five of its 777s are parked/in reserve and six are parked.

Dave Fitzgerald

Possibly. It will depend a lot on the Chinese and slots.

Grumble

You guys are hilarious. BA suspended flight test, again. Now saying earliest deliveries 2025, which means 2027 or later. This is Boeing after all which means probably even later than that.

Boeing Aviator

Well since the company said the majority of 777’s will not be replaced by this order. That the majority of 777’s will not be replaced until 2030 or later and they have not made an order to replace the majority 777’s. Your timeline is fine for a 777X order.

PNWFlyer

yeah problem with the engine again. What engines does Boeing manufacture again?

airbus on the other hand. Wow that 321-XLR is years ahead of schedule. The A380 will dominate the skies for centuries.

Grumble

And zero criminal charges or govt investigations for fraud and criminal negligence. Still have the trust of the global aviation community.

El Peso

Of course. Kirby himself said that the first 100 aircraft are really replacement aircraft. The 100 options will depend on how the market develops “but we don’t have to take all of them”.

Hilarious that some people actually thought United and United alone discovered untapped long haul revenue/demand out in the world that warranted their fleet grow by several hundred wide bodies. Geez

UALFlyer

My math is pretty much the same as yours, the 100 x 787s are replacements. However, why would UAL put down money to hold 100 more potential production slots (options, price locks, or whatever you want to call them)? What is SK thinking, merger, acquisition, growth?... He is thinking / planning the long game.

El Peso

It’s not my math, Kirby literally said that. And as far as the second 100 options who knows. That’s after 2032. Who knows what the market and the industry will look like then. There could very well be room for growth, or maybe not. He loses nothing by getting 100 option and gains front of the line privileges if in fact UAL needs more wide bodies then. Smart move I’d say.