N515CR

Ah, didn't know that. Certainly makes things a bit more interesting.

cheltzel

+1

Wider seat, roomier, quieter.

TWA Fan 1

The merits of Airbus and Boeing aside (there are pluses and minuses to each, IMHO), the history of the relationship between CO and Boeing goes back to the beginning of Gordon Bethune's tenure as CEO.

Bethune had been an executive at Boeing when he was hired at CO. The airline was still very much struggling at the time, and when Bethune got to CAL, he agreed to a formal exclusivity agreement with Boeing in return for a lot of financial support on the part of Boeing.

Later that exclusivity was ruled illegal, but was maintained as what is known as a "gentlemen's agreement."

Whether the current deal with Boeing in fact has any connection to the gentlemen's agreement is very hard to know, since this agreement, by its very nature, is murky and out of the public view.

But let's just say that once CAL turned the corner, it was clear that it was their turn to pay Boeing back for helping to save the airline, and that may still be a part of the equation here...

MileCards

Though no talk of widebodies here -- when I saw the headline before story got printed thought that would be referenced as well.

Theoretically that's still a two horse mixed race.

Jorgen

http://www.gulfstream.com/ :P

The main reason I dislike the 757 is that it takes too darn long to board. Though the longer 737 variants aren't much better in this regard.

On the matter of "losing leverage", I'm sure that everybody in the negotiation knows perfectly well that even if United isn't (officially) talking to Airbus at the moment that they easily could do so if they don't feel like Boeing's giving them a good deal. In fact, "give us a good deal or we'll start talking to Airbus" is just as good as "give us a good deal because we're currently talking to Airbus", and saves you the trouble of actually talking to Airbus.

channa

With the second door boarding of the 757, it usually leaves < 160 people on the right side (assuming 757-200; the 757-300 is a different story), so it's not much different than a longer 737 as you point out.


Speaking of leverage, they may in fact be messing with Airbus by leaking that they're going to only talk to Boeing, in the hopes that Airbus becomes more aggressive.

Then again, from this one-size-fits-all fleet management team that has never had to leverage competitors against each other, I doubt it.

uastarflyer

And soon with even bigger bins!

And real UA crew (for now). Another non change that I like.

UA-NYC

Pigs will fly before you see this new UA order a WB Airbus, from what it looks like

slariz

Does this mean there's no hope for an A380 order in the future?

<kidding>

JC1120

Although I have next-to-no experience in fleet maintenance, I would bet the official reason is similar to the same official reason CO has been giving over the years...that standardizing the fleet helps lower costs tremendously (and have the tag-on effect of helping reduce MX delays through cross-training). Whether that argument holds water in this scenario I have no clue.

What I will provide is this...as of YE2011 here is the fleet mix for the combined airline:

Boeing: 549 aircraft (78%)
Airbus: 152 aircraft (22%)

A320-200: 97 aircraft
A319-100: 55 aircraft
73x: 238 aircraft

jhayes_1780

I wonder......

Instead of leveraging Airbus against Boeing....

They are leveraging the 787 settlement negotiations?

3Cforme

Not illegal. The exclusivity agreements were terminated by Boeing in order to get EU approval of the MD acquisition.

bob_the_d

honestly, i don't think this in itself is all that bad. personally i've always had a soft spot for the 737. personally i just thought it always looked cool. some people don't, but i like that it's low to the ground. i like the nose of the 737 over the A319/32x. i think the hamster pouches look cool.

but then again that's aesthetics and is completely subjective.

and if the new planes are that much more fuel efficient and the 737MAX is that much quieter (i saw the chevrons on the engines in the PR pics which is a good indication) then that's also more ticks in the "plus" column to me.

i think it really depends on what UA decides to do with the planes. if it loads it up with the sky interior and those new Y seats (i forget who makes them... the one on the new 767's with lie flats have them) and so on and so forth, maybe we can get somewhere.

or they can remove some more padding in Y seats, stick in some more of those temporary F seats and throw us some terrible interiors.

uastarflyer

What they are doing with the 787 is instructive

And it blows

Doom for any new fleet adds. I'll be riding the 744, 777 transpac and Airbii domestic as often as possible.

If I want a 737 it will be on WN.

N830MH

Yes, it still possible to order some A380.