Originally Posted by
JimInOhio
Also, I've assumed all along the 789 mostly replaces a 772 anyway but that might be wrong.
Consistent with UA's press announcement today that this 787 order is to replace the entire 767 fleet
and aging 777 aircraft.
Originally Posted by United
Approximately 100 planes of the new widebody order are expected to replace older Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with all 767 aircraft removed from the United fleet by 2030
The impression I get from UA's announcement is based on the expected growth they aren't necessarily looking for an extended 777, but rather by the time they're in the position to get rid of the 777, the routes its being used on could be better served by a 787, likely with additional frequency to make up for the capacity differences. Not that they've ruled out a 77X completely, but until Boeing has something more tangible and definitive production timeline, it's not something they're heavily considering in their fleet planning (much like the A350).