United Airlines Reportedly In Talks to Buy Widebody Jets
Joe Cortez May 10, 2018
United Airlines could be looking to Airbus and Boeing for a successor to their aging 767 aircraft. The Chicago-based carrier is reportedly contacting both manufacturers for a widebody solution for 50 aircraft, with the top contenders being the 787 Dreamliner and A330neo.
United Airlines’ days of flying the Boeing 767 could be coming to an end, as the airline is reportedly considering ordering a replacement. Reuters reports United is working with both Airbus and Boeing to find a new widebody aircraft to replace their fleet of 50 767 airframes.
Anonymous sources inside the airline say they have sent out requests to both manufacturers to find a successor for the 767. The airline currently flies two variants of the widebody, seating between 183 and 242 passengers. The 767-300 has three configurations, including a three-class cabin with lie-flat United First Class seating, along with one featuring new United Polaris seats. The 767-400 only offers one configuration: a two-class cabin divided into United Polaris and economy.
According to the sources, Airbus is pitching the A330neo as their replacement, instead of the newer A350. The A330-800neo has a range of over 7,500 nautical miles and typically accommodates 257 flyers. Their competition could be the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has already proven popular on international routes. In a two-class configuration, Boeing advertises the 787 seating between 242 and 330 passengers, with a range between 6,430 and 7,335 nautical miles.
If Airbus is successful in their pitch, it would be a major win for the French manufacturer. Both American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines opted to fly the Dreamliner as a mid-range widebody aircraft, with Hawaiian going so far to cancel orders for the A330neo already on the books.
A potential deal for the 50 new aircraft could exceed $14 billion dollars. Officials for all three companies have not provided any public comment on the talks. If United decides to replace their 767 fleet, there is no word on if a three-class solution would be available or when they would potentially come into service.
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The 350 and the 330 are too big for the void when the 767 retires. It's a foregone conclusion it will be a 787 of some sort.
Anyone that knows United knows that 3-class is going away and the new Polaris is the way of the future. Hopefully they choose the B788, as this is likely the most comfortable ride of any aircraft type... and has the best windows of any aircraft.