Ok, now I’m not working on real work, its time to do an analysis.
With a mixed order of 25 of each type of aircraft (with options for 50 more of each – so a possible 75 aircraft of each class), what is United trying to achive?
Fleet Replacement– The 747’s and 767’s are up for the chop in this case.
- The 747’s are being replaced with Airbus A350-900’s (with 11% more range than a 747-400)
- whilst the 767’s are being replaced with Boeing 787-8’s. (with a 32% increase in range)
- No 747-8’s – Well lets be honest, who really wants this type? Apart from Lufthansa and Korean Air, United seems not to be in the 350 people plus market
- No new 777’s – Unsurprising as interest in the current generation equipment is slowly waning as people look to 787/A350.
Shrinkage – Yes – there’s a lot of it. Apart from fleet shrinkage of 10% airframes, there will be a 19% shrinkage in actual seats. That’s a *lot* of seats.
Cost reduction and “greenness” – The green issue rears its head again, with alleged savings of 40% over the liftime of the frame
Both fleets also represent a chance for United to take gambles with long and thin routes – or really beef up exisit routes.
One little issue – neither fleets are due to come on stream until 2016, with delivery complete in 2019.
That is a *lifetime* away in airline terms.
So, it’s a win-win for both Boeing and Airbus? Airbus should be feeling happy, however, the real looser is Boeing – in terms of not the aircraft ordered, but the aircraft lost to Airbus.
However, rather than being nationalist – United has done the right thing by buying aircraft suited to need… and knowing United – suited to it’s pocket.
