US airline expects travel to see a resurgence
United Airlines has purchased 270 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft – the largest combined order in the airline's history – as it expects a resurgence in air travel in 2022
The 'United Next' plan is expected to increase the total number of available seats per domestic departure by almost 30 per cent, significantly lower carbon emissions per seat and create tens of thousands of jobs by 2026.
When combined with the current order book, United expects to introduce more than 500 new, narrow-body aircraft: 40 in 2022, 138 in 2023 and as many as 350 in 2024 and beyond. That means in 2023 alone, United's fleet will, on average, add about one new narrow-body aircraft every three days.
Accelerating the business to meet rising travel demand
"Our United Next vision will revolutionise the experience of flying United as we accelerate our business to meet a resurgence in air travel," said United CEO Scott Kirby.
United expects to create approximately 25,000 jobs at the airline as a result of adding these new aircraft and, based on a study from the Federal Aviation Administration, the airline expects to drive more than US$30 billion in traveller spending when flying United and contribute an estimated $50 billion annually towards the US economy by 2026.
Plus, adding these new 737 MAX and Airbus A321neo aircraft means United will replace older, smaller mainline jets and at least 200 single-class regional jets with larger aircraft. The airline expects this will lead to significant sustainability benefits compared to older planes: an expected 11 per cent overall improvement in fuel efficiency and an expected 17-20 per cent lower carbon emission per seat compared to older planes.
Last year, United Airlines launched a free transatlantic Covid-19 testing pilot.