Originally Posted by EWR764

I suspect that line in the press release was just marketing fluff:



I also recall that chapter in Gordon's book, but the difference here is he was referring to A300 line maintenance and parts storage in GSO, when that aircraft didn't even fly there. Line maintenance means exactly what it sounds like, short-term work done on airplanes while flying the line. These checks (A/B) typically run a few hours, to overnight, to a few days, and United does most of this work in-house. The various line maintenance stations will have parts, equipment and (in some cases) facilities in place to service aircraft which regularly come through. For instance, EWR is capable of handling line maintenance on all UA types (319/320/737/747/757/767/777/787) and all engines (CF6/GE90/GEnx/CFM56/PW2000/PW4000/RB211/V2500). So it's not just 787-exclusive, and there have been times where 787s have been through EWR on scheduled flights, as well as charters and ferry movements.

On the other hand, at some stations, like PHL, UA has a line maintenance operation, but is only capable of supporting the 737 series and CFM56 engine. Or EZE, which only has support for the 767 (CF6/PW4000) and 787 (GEnx). Ideally, aircraft compatible with a station's capabilities will be routed through for line maintenance.

In the From Worst to First example, A300 line maintenance was conducted at a station (GSO) with no A300 service, so aircraft would have to be ferried in for basic checks, or parts shipped out to support aircraft around the system. It was an inefficient use of resources that doesn't happen nearly to the same degree today.

The only offline stations where UA has a Tech Ops presence are JFK and HOU. JFK is a line station and UA does contract work for other carriers, while HOU is a 737 heavy maintenance base. UA also does inductions at HOU.

Any maintenance done elsewhere (cities not served by UA) are by vendors for more lengthy and less frequent heavy checks, mods or paint (XMN, HKG, DLH, LCQ, FTW, RFD, VCV) where a ferry flight is more economical, given the cost savings.