As of June 2024[update], the United Airlines fleet consists of 956 mainline aircraft, making it the third-largest commercial airline fleet in the world.[1][2][3] United Airlines operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody and all Boeing widebody aircraft.
With an average age of 16.3 years, United has the oldest fleet of all major US airlines.[4][5][6] Their oldest planes are the Boeing 767-300ER from the early 1990s, which are between 30 and 32 years old.[7] However, United recently placed several orders for new narrowbody and widebody aircraft and are expecting over 700 new planes in their fleet by 2033.
On July 20, 2011, American Airlines announced an order for 460 narrowbody jets, including 260 Airbus A320s.[8] This order broke Boeing's monopoly with the airline and forced Boeing to proceed with plans for the re-engined 737 MAX.[9] The contract with American included a Most-Favoured-Customer Clause, which requires Airbus to refund to American any difference between the price paid by American and the price paid by United or another airline, if lower. The clause acts to perpetuate United having a Boeing-skewed fleet.[10]
On September 22, 2012, United became the first American airline to take delivery of Boeing 787 aircraft.[11] United is also the North American launch customer for the Boeing 787-9[12] and 787-10 aircraft,[13] which are stretched versions of the base 787-8 model, delivered at launch.
In May 2018, United planned to replace its 51 Boeing 767s in a deal potentially worth $14 billion at list prices, and was in talks with both Airbus and Boeing, for their A330neo and 787.[14] United operates 128 757s and 767s (77 757s and 51 767s), the second-largest combined fleet after Delta Air Lines with 206 (127 757s and 79 767s). Both have to replace them; they could be replaced by 737 MAX 10s, A321neos, Boeing NMAs, 787-8s or A330-800s.[15]
On June 3, 2021, United announced that a deal had been confirmed with Boom Supersonic to purchase at least 15 of their Overture supersonic airliners & potentially up to 50 in total. These aircraft will be flown on 100% sustainable fuels. The aircraft is intended to enter service with United in 2029 & is expected to be the first supersonic airliner to fly domestically for an airline since the Concorde was retired with British Airways & Air France in 2003.[16]
On June 29, 2021, United announced an order for 270 aircraft valued at around $15 billion:[17] 150 737 MAX 10 aircraft, 50 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and 70 A321neo aircraft. United also announced the rollout of the "Signature Interior" which will include video screens on every seat. New aircraft will enter the fleet with the Signature Interior, while all mainline aircraft will be retrofitted with the interior by 2025.[18] United has also announced the retirement of older mainline aircraft and at least 200 single-class regional aircraft.
As of June 2024[update], United Airlines operates the following mainline aircraft:[19][20][21]
Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | W | Y+ | Y | Total | Refs | ||||
Airbus A319-100 | 81 | — | — | 12 | — | 36 | 78 | 126 | [22] | |
Airbus A320-200 | 87 | — | — | 12 | — | 42 | 96 | 150 | [23] | |
Airbus A321neo | 11 | 157 | — | 20 | — | 57 | 123 | 200 | [24][25] | Deliveries until 2032.[26] |
Airbus A321XLR | — | 50 | TBA | Deliveries start in 2025.[21] | ||||||
Airbus A350-900 | — | 45 | TBA
|
Delivery deferred to 2030, at the earliest.[27] | ||||||
Boeing 737-700 | 40 | — | — | 12 | — | 36 | 78 | 126 | [28] | |
Boeing 737-800 | 141 | — | — | 16 | — | 48 | 102 | 166 | [29] | |
42 | 108 | |||||||||
Boeing 737-900 | 12 | — | — | 20 | — | 42 | 117 | 179 | [30] | |
Boeing 737-900ER | 136 | — | — | 20 | — | 45 | 114 | 179 | ||
42 | 117 | |||||||||
39 | 120 | |||||||||
Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 88 | 35 | — | 16 | — | 54 | 96 | 166 | [29] | Deliveries through the end of 2024.[21] |
Boeing 737 MAX 9 | 80 | 144 | — | 20 | — | 48 | 111 | 179 | [30] | Largest operator.[31] |
Boeing 737 MAX 10 | — | 167 | — | 20 | — | 64 | 104 | 188 | [32] | Launch customer.[33] Deliveries not expected until after 2025.[21] |
Boeing 757-200 | 40 | — | 16 | — | — | 45 | 108 | 169 | [34] | |
42 | 118 | 176 | ||||||||
Boeing 757-300 | 21 | — | — | 24 | — | 54 | 156 | 234 | [35] | Largest operator.[18] |
Boeing 767-300ER | 13 | — | 30 | — | 24 | 32 | 113 | 199 | All to be removed from service by 2030.[36] | |
24 | 46 | — | 22 | 43 | 56 | 167 | ||||
Boeing 767-400ER | 16 | — | 34 | — | 24 | 48 | 125 | 231 | [37] | |
Boeing 777-200 | 19 | — | — | 28 | — | 102 | 234 | 364 | [38] | Launch customer.[39] Used for select domestic routes.[40] |
Boeing 777-200ER | 51 | — | 50 | — | 24 | 46 | 156 | 276 | [38] | |
4 | — | 32 | — | 124 | 206 | 362 | Used for select domestic routes.[40] | |||
Boeing 777-300ER | 22 | — | 60 | — | 24 | 62 | 204 | 350 | [41] | |
Boeing 787-8 | 12 | 150 | 28 | — | 21 | 36 | 158 | 243 | [42] | Order with 50 options.[43] To replace older Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 aircraft.[36] |
Boeing 787-9 | 38 | 48 | — | 21 | 39 | 149 | 257 | [44] | ||
Boeing 787-10 | 21 | 44 | — | 21 | 54 | 199 | 318 | [45] | ||
Total | 956 | 749 |
Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Replacement | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing 40A | Unknown | 1927 | 1937 | Unknown | Launch customer. Operated by Boeing Air Transport[47] and Varney Air Lines. |
Boeing 80A | Unknown | 1928 | 1934 | Unknown | Launch customer. Operated by Boeing Air Transport. |
Boeing 247 | 59[48] | 1933 | 1942 | Unknown | Launch customer. All base models were built for United Airlines.[49] |
Boeing 377 Stratocruiser | 7[48] | 1950 | 1954 | Unknown | |
Boeing 720 | 29[48] | 1960 | 1976 | Boeing 727 | Launch customer. |
Boeing 727-100 | 126 | 1963 | 1993 | Boeing 737-500 | Two crashed as Flight 389 and Flight 227. |
Boeing 727-200 | 104 | 1968 | 2001 | Airbus A320 family Boeing 737 NG Bombardier CRJ-700 |
One crashed as Flight 266. |
Boeing 737-200 | 101 | 1968 | 2001 | Launch customer.
Two crashed as Flight 553 and Flight 585. | |
Boeing 737-300 | 103 | 1986 | 2009 | ||
Boeing 737-500[50] | 73 | 1990 | 2009 | ||
29 | 2010 | 2013 | Taken over from merged Continental Airlines. | ||
Boeing 747-100 | 23 | 1970 | 1999 | Boeing 747-400 Boeing 777-200ER |
One was damaged as Flight 811, but was later repaired and re-registered as N4724U. Another was damaged as Flight 826. |
Boeing 747-200B | 10 | 1987 | 2000 | ||
Boeing 747SP | 11 | 1985 | 1995 | Boeing 747-400 Boeing 767-300ER Boeing 777-200 |
Taken over from Pan Am. |
Boeing 747-400 | 44 | 1989 | 2017 | Boeing 777-300ER Boeing 787 Dreamliner |
Largest operator of Boeing 747-400 in United States. One leased by Mahan Air. |
Boeing 767-200 | 19 | 1982 | 2005 | Boeing 757-200 Boeing 767-300ER |
Launch customer. Many were later upgraded to -ER standards. One hijacked and crashed into South Tower of the World Trade Center as Flight 175, as part of the September 11 attacks. |
Boeing 767-200ER[51] | 10 | 2010 | 2013 | Taken over from merged Continental Airlines. | |
Convair 340 | 52 | 1952 | 1968 | Unknown | |
Douglas DC-3 | 118 | 1936 | 1956 | Convair 340 | |
Douglas DC-4 | 36 | 1946 | 1957 | Unknown | |
Douglas DC-4E | Unknown | ||||
Douglas DC-6 | 90 | 1946 | 1969 | Unknown | |
Douglas DC-6B | Unknown | ||||
Douglas DC-7 | 57 | 1954 | 1966 | Unknown | |
Douglas DC-8-10 | 2 | 1959 | 1961 | None | Both crashed as Flight 826 and Flight 859. |
Douglas DC-8-20 | 30 | 1959 | 1982 | Boeing 727-200 | |
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-30 | 11 | 1967 | 1974 | ||
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-50 | 18 | 1959 | 1983 | ||
15 | 1964 | 1987 | None | Cargo fleet. Two crashed as Flight 2860 and Flight 2885. | |
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-60 | 41 | 1967 | 1991 | Boeing 757-200 | One crashed as Flight 173. |
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-70 | |||||
Ford Trimotor | Unknown | 1931 | Unknown | Unknown | Operated on a transcontinental route between New York City and San Francisco.[52] |
Laird Swallow J-5 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Single seat biplane used to carry US Air Mail (CAM 5) by predecessor Varney Air Lines.[53] |
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar | 6 | 1986 | 1989 | Boeing 747-100 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 |
Taken over from Pan Am.[46] All aircraft were sold to Delta Air Lines. |
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | 48 | 1971 | 2001 | Boeing 757-200 Boeing 767-300ER Boeing 777-200 |
Launch customer. One crashed as Flight 232. |
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 | 7 | 1983 | 2001 | ||
4 | 1997 | None | Converted into freighters for the short-lived "United Airlines Worldwide Cargo" service. | ||
Sud Aviation Caravelle | 20 | 1961 | 1970 | Boeing 727 Boeing 737-200 |
Only U.S. operator in scheduled passenger service. Used to operate "Executive" service between Chicago and Newark restricted to men only passengers. Also operated on other United domestic services. |
Vickers Viscount | 48 | 1961 | 1969 | Former Capital Airlines aircraft. Only mainline turboprop aircraft type ever operated by United Airlines. |