United Airlines updated its first quarter guidance yesterday, and whilst there was talk of profit, there was also some interesting news about the fleet movements in the airline.
United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER landing at Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The biggest note of interest is that United will swap 10 of its 787 orders for 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. United will be the second operator of the Boeing 777-300ER in the USA. The use of these 777-300ERs will be for high-capacity routes, or routes where increasing frequencies may not be possible.
Sadly, the only way of getting more capacity out of a Boeing 777-300ER is to install 10 across seating down the back of the plane… and if United doesn’t install this seating in these new planes, I will honestly be surprised.
Meanwhile 10 of United’s Boeing 777-200 fleet will be reconfigured for US Domestic service and some of the 757 International fleet will be sent to Latin America. In exchange, 11 Boeing 767-300ERs will be “life extended”, with the installation of blended winglets, reliability improvements and interior updates – meaning the full cadre of 21 Boeing 767-300ERs will remain in the United fleet in the long-term.
United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER with Winglets, Image Economy Class and Beyond
Regional fleets will be targeted too, with United to remove 130 50-seater aircraft by end of 2015, and another 50 in 2016. This targets the United Express fleets of Embraer ERJ-145 and Bombardier CRJ-200s as aircraft come off lease.
Finally, United will be shopping for used aircraft as they intend to lease between 10 to 20 narrow body aircraft into its fleet. Although United Airlines short-haul fleet was split between the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 NextGen family, the airline has been swinging towards Boeing aircraft for its replacement fleet – which could give an indication what aircraft United might select.
Chopping and changing the fleet is not unexpected, as airlines adjust future plans. The introduction of 777-300ERs should not be taken lightly though – it is a mature aircraft that has formed the backbone of many a long haul fleet.
Just keep an eye on those seat maps when the Boeing 777-300ERs are introduced…
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