United Reportedly Close to Replacing 737 MAX 10 Orders
Joe Cortez March 14, 2024
Bloomberg reports the Chicago-based airline could be close to securing numerous Airbus A321neo aircraft in place of their long-delayed 737 MAX-10 orders.
United Could Take Around 36 Airbus A321neo Airframes
Consideration of the Airbus A321neo can be directly tied to the Boeing 737 MAX door plug blowout incident aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1262. In the days after, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a prohibition on expanding 737 MAX production until further notice.
After the incident, United chief executive officer Scott Kirby told investors that the 737 MAX-10 was “out of internal plans” due to additional uncertainty. In comments during the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Bloomberg reports Kirby said they have asked Boeing to “stop building MAX-10s…and start building MAX-9s.” Moreover, Kirby called the issues with the 737 MAX-10 “a two-decade issue,” saying he is glad the company is working through the issues.
According to company insiders speaking to Bloomberg under anonymity, those MAX-10 orders could be replaced by the Airbus A321neo. Under a deal which may be in “final negotiations,” United could be looking at around 36 airframes from aircraft lessors. If completed, they would be delivered between 2025 and 2027.
At the J.P. Morgan conference, Kirby noted that the airline could be interested in acquiring Airbus planes “if we get a deal where the economics work.” Neither Airbus nor United provided public comment when asked about a potential deal.
The comments by Kirby at the J.P. Morgan conference come after Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan had similarly scathing comments about Boeing. After the Dallas-based airline blamed Boeing for slower capacity growth, Jordan said Boeing needed to “be a better company.”
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Boeing is not the same Boeing 20 years ago.
Boeing moved its corporate HQ to Chicago, in large part to be closer to UA.After a long series of unintended consequences stemming from that move, UA is ready to switch a big order to Airbus.When will Boeing figure out that it needs to move its HQ back to SEA, where the engineers and line employees are?
I like how, as a direct result of an incident on a Max 9, United is 'showing their dissatisfaction' by asking for more Max 9s.
The A321neo is a better aircraft. It would be to Uniteds benefit to change. Also it would send Boeing a message.
Yep, the A321 is better aircraft. The base design is only 40 years old, rather than 60 years old. Honestly, until they start building truly modern aircraft, age of design doesn't seem to be a huge issue. It is clear that Airbus is doing a better job of BUILDING aircraft than Boeing. If Boeing had been able to design a MAX off of the 757 desgin, then we would have two competiting 40 year old designs.
Doesn't United have orders for 250+ of the MAX 10?
if so, I hardly call an order for 36 321NEOs 'replacing' the MAX 10s. A start, sure. The headline is clickbait. Don't get me wrong - I'd love to see UA actually replace all of the MAX 10s with 321s, I've always preferred Airbus aircraft to Boeing, even prior to the MAX issues. And if everyone of the MAX 10s on order with UA was replaced with a 321, woild love it as a UA customer. Won't hold my breath waiting for that announcement, but can always hope.
The 'barking dog' in the cargo hold is the only detractor from the Airbus products. I like their ceiling vents better for sure.
According to a Dec 13, 2022 Reuters article, United ordered 80 737-10 Max planes.