Originally Posted by
LordTentacle
RE the PW777, does UA have any 788/789 or other 777 sitting in storage at the moment? if so I would hazzard a guess that if UA actually needed any frames they would pull them out
Otherwise just temp lease some 777 sitting in the desert from any of 20+ other airlines... (I would be amused to fly a united operated QF body)
All of the 787s and 77Ws are in active service, though some are in maintenance/mod and not all fly every day. Aside from the PW 777s, 9/22 GE-powered 772s are in long-term storage, with the rest in service or maintenance.
No chance on UA operating any other airlines' metal. UA has plenty of lift parked in the desert, and there is a great deal of regulatory work and training that would go into UA operating another carrier's parked airplanes. Conversely, there are scope limitations that essentially preclude other airlines operating mainline-category airplanes for UAL on a wet lease/ACMI basis.