United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has announced a firm order with Airbus for fifty A321-200neo(XLR)s with deliveries starting in 2024. The twinjets will act as a replacement for the carrier's ageing B757-200s.
"The new Airbus A321neo(XLR) aircraft is an ideal one-for-one replacement for the older, less-efficient aircraft currently operating between some of the most vital cities in our intercontinental network. In addition to strengthening our ability to fly more efficiently, the A321neo(XLR)'s range capabilities open potential new destinations to further develop our route network and provide customers with more options to travel the globe," Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said.
The airline said in a press release that in addition to replacing the B757-200s, the A321neo(XLR) will allow it to "explore serving additional destinations in Europe from its East Coast hubs in New York Newark and Washington Dulles."
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, United currently operates fifty active B757-200s and has a further three units on the ground. The average age of this subfleet is 23.4 years. United owns all of its B757-200s.
The airline also said that it will defer the deliveries of its A350-900s to 2027 to "better align with the carrier's operational needs." The carrier has forty-five A350s on firm order from Airbus.
Besides the B757-200s, United also operates eighty-one A319-100s, ninety-eight A320-200s, forty-two B737-700s, 141 B737-800s, twelve B737-900s, 136 -900(ER)s, twenty-one B757-300s, thirty-eight B767-300(ER)s, sixteen B767-400(ER)s, nineteen B777-200s, fifty-five -200(ER)s, eighteen B777-300(ER)s, nine B787-10s, twelve B787-8s, and twenty-five B787-9s.
It also has fourteen grounded B737-9s and firm orders for forty-five A350s, a further twenty-three B737 MAX 9s, 100 B737-10s, four B777-300(ER)s, five B787-10s, thirteen B787-9s, and twenty-nine E175LRs (to be operated by regional partners).
