SAN FRANCISCO: The largest wide-body aircraft 787 Dreamliner order ever placed by a U.S. airline in the history of commercial aviation will be announced on Tuesday, according to United Airlines.
The Chicago-based airline is buying 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes, with the option to order an additional 100 fuel-efficient planes.
According to United and Boeing, the 787’s lighter-weight composite construction, technological advancements and more aerodynamic design will result in 25% better fuel efficiency than the outdated 767s and 777s they will replace. The majority of the 767s in United’s fleet is 30 years of age, and airline officials predict they will soon need to be retired.
787 Dreamliner
The capacity of United’s 787s Dreamliner ranges from 219 to 318 passengers, depending on their size and seating arrangement. United intends to use the aircraft to increase its long-haul routes to international locations because the 787 Dreamliner has a longer range and a higher fuel efficiency.
United CEO Scott Kirby said in a conference call with reporters that the order “marks another step, and a really substantial step, in solidifying United’s status as the flag carrier of the United States and a leading airline throughout the globe.” He continued by saying that the airline is “accelerating our mission to connect more people to more destinations across the world and give the best experience in the sky” with the execution of this order.
According to United’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella, the 787 Dreamliner is a fantastic aircraft. “These planes fly quicker, carry twice as much cargo, and have more luxury seats, all while being up to 25% more fuel efficient than previous models. Simply put, this is very revolutionary for United.”
According to United’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella, the 787 is a fantastic aircraft. “These planes fly quicker, carry twice as much cargo, and have more luxury seats, all while being up to 25% more fuel efficient than previous models. Simply put, this is very revolutionary for United.”
Last year, Boeing said that while performing inspections, “areas where the manufacturing does not conform to the engineering specifications”, were discovered. However, the company added that “none of these issues is an immediate safety-of-flight issue.”
Boeing was able to restart 787 Dreamliner deliveries in August after the FAA approved the company’s plans to modify its quality control and manufacturing procedures in July. Currently operating more than 60 Boeing 787s, United anticipates taking delivery of the 100 aircraft ordered to start in 2024 and continue through 2032.
Depending on size, the list price for each plane ranges from $250 to $300 million, bringing the total cost of the deal to around $25 billion. However, airlines frequently negotiate significant discounts, especially with large orders like this.
United’s Chief Financial Officer, Gerry Laderman, declined to reveal how much the airline is paying for the jets, stating that “airlines don’t speak about costs.” When asked if the historic purchase was the most money any airline had ever spent on aircraft, he responded, “We wouldn’t know. Honestly, we can’t compare if the whole dollars of this order are more than the dollars paid by another airline… we don’t really know what they spend.”
Additionally, United revealed that it has exercised its option to buy 44 Boeing 737 Max aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2026 and that it has also placed orders for 56 additional narrow-body Max aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028. — APP
