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The firm order for 100 new 787 Dreamliners – plus options to add 100 more – represents the most significant widebody aircraft order by a U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history.

The airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and wide-body aircraft by 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and three a week in 2024

Order builds on United’s strengths: leading U.S. international gateways, a robust domestic network supporting the global fleet, premium onboard experience and most widebodies among North American carriers.

Approximately 100 planes of the new widebody order are expected to replace older Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with all 767 aircraft removed from the United fleet by 2030, resulting in up to an expected 25% decrease in carbon emissions per seat for the new planes compared to the older planes they are expected to replace.

United also exercised options to purchase 44 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2026 – consistent with the United Next 2026 capacity plan – and ordered 56 more MAX aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028. The airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebody aircraft by the end of 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and more than three every week in 2024.

United Airlines announced the most significant widebody order by a U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history: 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options to purchase 100 more. United also will retrofit 100% of its mainline, narrow-body planes with its signature interior – about 100 aircraft are scheduled to be completed in 2023, with the remaining expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

United expects to take delivery of the new widebody planes between 2024 and 2032 and can choose among the 787-8, 9 or 10 models, providing flexibility to support a wide range of routes.

“With this investment in its future fleet, the 737 MAX and 787 will help United accelerate its fleet modernization and global growth strategy,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. More than 90% of the carrier’s international widebodies now feature the United Polaris® business class seat, and United Premium Plus® seating – upgrades for the remaining aircraft will be completed by the summer of 2023. This order further solidifies our lead and creates new opportunities for our customers, employees and shareholders by accelerating our plan to connect more people to more places around the globe and deliver the best experience in the sky.

“United emerged from the pandemic as the world’s leading global airline and the flag carrier of the United States,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. This historic purchase is the next chapter in the ambitious United Next plan and will bolster the airline’s leadership role in global travel for years to come.

Additionally, United continues its unprecedented effort to upgrade the interiors of its existing fleet. “The Boeing team is honored by United’s trust in our family of airplanes to connect people and transport cargo around the world for decades to come.”

Driving Bottom Line Value.

The firm order for 787 aircraft addresses United’s current widebody aircraft replacement needs through the next decade – their greatly improved maintenance and fuel burn economics will further United’s efforts to improve its overall cost profile.

“This order solves our current widebody replacement needs in a more fuel-efficient and cost-efficient way while also giving our customers a best-in-class experience,” said Gerry Laderman, United’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer. And suppose the future of long-haul flying is as bright as we think it will be. In that case, United can capitalize on those opportunities by exercising these new widebody options – I look forward to the incremental margin and earnings these aircraft will generate.

United has also started building the order book for 2027 and beyond with the firm order for 56 additional MAX aircraft. In partnership with Boeing, this order also helps United maintain flexibility with the timing of widebody aircraft retirements. At the same time, the 787 options allow United to continue growing its global network and help maintain the airline’s industry-leading margins in international flying among U.S. carriers. The exercised options for MAX aircraft are consistent with the 2026 capacity and two margin targets associated with the United Next plan.

The Flag Carrier of the United States.

In the last two years alone, United added 13 new international destinations, 40 new international routes and extra trips to 10 existing international routes. This expansion includes service to London Heathrow, where the airline added five new flights for 23 daily flights planned for the summer of 2023, including an hourly shuttle from New York/Newark.

With hubs in the nation’s largest cities, United provides strategic gateways to international destinations across the Atlantic, Pacific and Latin America.

United now serves double-digit international destinations from each of its U.S. hubs:

78 via Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
56 via George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
45 via Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
41 via Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
32 via San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
18 via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
17 via Denver International Airport (DEN)

“Our widebody fleet will be re-energized by these new 787 deliveries and further strengthen what we do best: connect people and unite the world with modern, customer friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft,” said Andrew Nocella, United’s EVP and Chief Commercial Officer. “United is uniquely positioned to capture international travel demand thanks to our global network, fleet size and gateway hubs. This combination represents a significant advantage for our business for years to come and another reason for business and leisure customers to choose United.”

#1 Across the Atlantic

Next summer, United’s Atlantic expansion will continue with new service to three cities – Malaga, Spain, Stockholm, Sweden; and Dubai, UAE – as well as six more flights to some of the most popular destinations in Europe, including Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin and Shannon.

Earlier this year, United kicked off the most significant transatlantic expansion in its history with the launch of ten new flights – including to several places no other North American carrier serves like Amman, Jordan; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Ponta Delgada, Azores and Mallorca, Spain.

This past summer, United became the largest airline between the U.S. and the Atlantic region, consisting of Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. United will fly nonstop to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East next summer, more than all other U.S. airlines combined.

#1 Across the Pacific

United offers six nonstop routes linking Australia’s three largest cities – Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – with three key U.S. tourist and trade hubs – San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston. Plus, the recently launched codeshare partnership with Virgin Australia also allows travellers to connect easily to more than 20 additional cities within Australia, helping support the country’s broader economic recovery.

United is also the largest carrier from the U.S. across the Pacific and will serve 20 transpacific routes at the beginning of 2023, with more returning throughout the year. United was the only airline to operate continuously between the U.S. and Australia during the pandemic, maintaining a vital supply chain link and helping families stay connected.

In January 2023, the airline plans to fly 48 times per week from the Continental U.S. to Japan, including new service from Newark/New York to Haneda and the relaunch of San Francisco to Osaka. As Australia gears up for its first entire southern summer tourist season in nearly three years, United will have more flights connecting Australia and the U.S. than any other airline.

United also continues to build back other transpacific services. Excluding Mainland China and Hong Kong, the United’s capacity across the Pacific will exceed 2019 levels next year. The most notable expansion in this region has been in the South Pacific and Australia in particular.

New Flights to Africa, India & the Middle East

In the last three years, United added five new nonstop flights to four African cities and now offers nonstop routes to Cape Town and Johannesburg from Newark/New York and Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria and Cape Town from Washington D.C.

United’s recent agreement with Emirates, which begins with a new nonstop flight between Newark/New York and Dubai, UAE, in March 2023, will significantly expand the airline’s reach in the Middle East and India, opening easy connections to nearly 100 cities in the region on Emirates and its sister airline flydubai.

Strategic Collaborations

United has forged alliances and strategic agreements with many of the world’s leading global airlines and travel companies to give customers even more options and help make world travel more accessible. The airline was a founding member of Star Alliance, giving customers reciprocal travel and loyalty program benefits on 26 global airlines and allowing easy connections almost anywhere in the world.

United has close working relationships with its joint venture partners, the Lufthansa Group, Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, and Air New Zealand. It holds codeshare agreements with leading airlines like Virgin Australia and Emirates.

The 787 Customer Experience

Each United Polaris business class seat offers all-aisle access, wool blend seat covers for breathability and a memory foam layer for extra comfort, as well as 16-inch high-definition touch screens and noise-reducing headphones that include free access to more than 1,000 movies, TV shows, audio playlists, podcasts, and games.

Consistently ranked by customers as the highest-scoring aircraft in United’s fleet in terms of overall satisfaction, all 787 aircraft also include more oversized windows, LED lighting, a lower cabin altitude setting and higher humidity, so customers feel more hydrated and better rested upon arrival.

All United Premium Plus seats include a six-inch recline, 13-inch seatback screens, and an amenity kit with a pillow and blanket at every seat.

“Our fleet of 787 aircraft brings together the best parts of the United customer experience – helpful, friendly service, terrific amenities and best-in-class technology,” said Linda Jojo, United’s EVP and Chief Customer Officer. And customers love our Polaris products – from our airport lounges, amenities and seat-back screens to big seats that turn into beds, luxury blankets and pillows and plenty of room for storage.

Each United 787 features four onboard products: United Polaris business class, United Premium Plus, Economy Plus®, and economy, providing an elevated and consistent experience throughout the airline’s international widebody fleet. Economy Plus and economy customers have 10-inch screens on every seat.

The seatback experience throughout the entire 787 aircraft also includes United’s Inflight Entertainment System (IFE), with accessibility features for people with hearing or visual disabilities. And United plans to add Bluetooth connectivity throughout new 787 aircraft so that customers can use their headphones. We’re proud to offer customers more lie-flat seat options than all other U.S. carriers.

Premium Onboard Amenities

United Polaris customers also receive custom Saks Fifth Avenue bedding that includes a duvet, day blanket, and pillow – items like mattress pads, slippers and United’s signature cooling gel pillows are available upon request. Every United Polaris customer also has access to the United Polaris Lounge – with locations in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. – with amenities that include spa-like shower facilities, a full-service restaurant and curated buffet, as well as daybeds with soft lighting and white noise. Today’s order also is expected to lead to increased hiring – the airline hired 15,000 people in 2022 and is on track to add another 15,000 next year.

“When I look at our culture and the trajectory of our brand and company, I know this is the best time to join United Airlines,” said Kate Gebo, United’s EVP of Human Resources and Labor Relations. “We’re not just creating jobs – these are long-lasting careers that offer great pay, outstanding benefits and flight privileges to see the world.

United Polaris Lounge

Earlier this year, United debuted new amenity kits from Away that include Sunday Riley skincare products. And the best part is we’re actively hiring across every role at the airline.