United Airlines Unveils Historic Order to Purchase Up To 200 New
Highlights:
* Firm order for 100 new 787 Dreamliners - plus options to add 100 more - represents largest widebody aircraft order by a
* Airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebodyaircraft by 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and three a week in 2024
* Order builds on United's strengths: leading
United Airlines Unveils Historic Order to Purchase Up To 200 New
United expects to take delivery of the new widebody planes between 2024 and 2032 and can choose among the 787-8, 9 or 10 models, providing flexibility to support a wide range of routes.
United also exercised options to purchase 44
The airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebody aircraft by the end of 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and more than three every week in 2024.
Additionally, United continues its unprecedented effort to upgrade the interiors of its existing fleet. More than 90% of the carrier's international widebodies now feature the United Polaris business class seat, as well as United Premium Plus seating - upgrades for the remaining aircraft will be completed by the summer of 2023. United also will retrofit 100% of its mainline, narrow-body planes with its signature interior - about 100 aircraft are scheduled to be completed in 2023 with the remaining expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Approximately 100 planes of the new widebody order are expected to replace older
'United emerged from the pandemic as the world's leading global airline and the flag carrier of
'With this investment in its future fleet, the 737 MAX and 787 will help United accelerate its fleet modernization and global growth strategy,' said
Driving Bottom Line Value
The firm order for 787 aircraft addresses United's current widebody aircraft replacement needs through the next decade - their greatly improved maintenance and fuel burn economics will further United's efforts to improve its overall cost profile. In partnership with
At the same time, the 787 options allow United to continue to grow its global network and would help maintain the airline's industry-leading margins in international flying among
'This order solves for our current widebody replacement needs in a more fuel-efficient and cost-efficient way, while also giving our customers a best-in-class experience,' said
The exercised options for MAX aircraft are consistent with the 2026 capacity and two margin targets associated with the United Next plan. United also has started to build the order book for 2027 and beyond with the firm order for 56 additional MAX aircraft.
The Flag Carrier of
With hubs in the nation's largest cities, United provides strategic gateways to international destinations across the
In the last two years alone, United added 13 new international destinations, 40 new international routes and extra trips to 10 existing international routes. This expansion includes service to
United now serves double-digit international destinations from each of its
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56 via
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32 via
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'Our widebody fleet will be re-energized by these new 787 deliveries and further strengthen what we do best: connect people and unite the world with modern, customer friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft,' said
#1 Across the
This past summer United became the largest airline between the
Earlier this year, United kicked off the largest transatlantic expansion in its history with the launch of ten new flights - including to several places no other North American carrier serves like
Next summer, United's
In total, United will fly nonstop to 37 cities in
#1 Across the Pacific
United is also the largest carrier from the
The most notable expansion in this region has been in the
United offers a total of six nonstop routes that link
United also continues to build back other transpacific services. In
New Flights to
In the last three years, United added five new nonstop flights to four cities in
United's recent agreement with Emirates, which begins with a new nonstop flight between
Strategic Collaborations
United has forged alliances and strategic agreements with many of the world's leading global airlines and travel companies to give customers even more options and help make world travel more accessible. The airline was a founding member of
The 787 Customer Experience
Each United 787 features four on-board products: United Polaris business class, United Premium Plus, Economy Plus, and economy, providing an elevated and consistent experience throughout the airline's international widebody fleet. Consistently ranked by customers as the highest scoring aircraft in United's fleet in terms of overall satisfaction, all 787 aircraft also include larger windows, LED lighting, a lower cabin altitude setting and higher humidity, so customers feel more hydrated and better rested upon arrival.
'Our fleet of 787 aircraft brings together the best parts of the United customer experience - helpful, friendly service, terrific amenities and best-in-class technology,' said
Each United Polaris business class seat offers all-aisle access, wool blend seat covers for breathability and a memory foam layer for extra comfort, as well as 16-inch high-definition touch screens and noise-reducing headphones that include free access to more than 1,000 movies, TV shows, audio playlists, podcasts, and games.
All United Premium Plus seats include a six-inch recline, 13-inch seat back screens, and an amenity kit with pillow and blanket at every seat. Economy Plus and economy customers have 10-inch screens at every seat.
The seatback experience throughout the entire 787 aircraft also includes United's Inflight Entertainment System (IFE) with accessibility features for people with hearing or visual disabilities. And United plans to add Bluetooth connectivity throughout new 787 aircraft so customers have the option of using their own headphones.
Premium Onboard Amenities
United Polaris customers also receive custom
Every United Polaris customer also has access to the
Creating Tens of Thousands of Careers
Today's order also is expected to lead to increased hiring - the airline hired 15,000 people in 2022 and is on track to add another 15,000 next year. For more information about United's recruiting and hiring efforts, visit careers.united.com.
'When I look at our culture and the trajectory of our brand and company, I know this is the best time to join
Pilots
United continues to see strong interest in pilot roles, from military and civilian backgrounds as well as from other carriers. In 2022, the airline hired about 2,400 pilots and plans to add more than 2,500 pilots in 2023, with a goal to add 10,000 pilots this decade.
Earlier this year, United opened the
Flight Attendants
United will hire more than 18,000 new flight attendants in the coming years with more than 4,000 expected to join the team in 2023 - earlier this year, the airline received 8,000 applications in less than 72 hours for open flight attendant roles.
Early next year, United will open a state-of-the-art
Aircraft Maintenance
United expects to hire more than 7,000 maintenance technicians by 2026 to provide upkeep of its fleet and ensure facilities meet the needs of employees and customers. The airline hired more than 1,000 aircraft mechanics already this year and expects to add 2,000 more in 2023.
In
Airport Operations
This year alone, United hired more than 8,500 new customer service, ramp, and gate agents and expects to add another 7,000 in 2023. These are critical roles in United's operation - the people who work the gate or on the tarmac help ensure customers have a safe, enjoyable and on-time travel experience.
Local Hiring
In 2023, United expects to hire across each its
2,600+ new jobs in
2,200+ new jobs in
2,100+ new jobs in
1,800+ new jobs in
1,800+ new jobs in
1,100+ new jobs in
400+ new jobs in
Better Fuel Efficiency & Lower Carbon Emissions
United has set an ambitious goal to be 100% green by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets. To get there, the airline is introducing more fuel-efficient aircraft into its fleet and investing in sustainable aviation fuel and other decarbonization technologies.
According to
About United
United's shared purpose is 'Connecting People. Uniting the World.' From our
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements,' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, relating to, among other things, the potential impacts of the Company's aircraft orders, including on the Company's financial targets, route and capacity plans and emissions-related targets, and the Company's financial targets. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Company's future financial results, goals, plans, commitments, strategies and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond the Company's control and could cause the Company's future financial results, goals, plans, commitments, strategies and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. Words such as 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'will,' 'may,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'intends,' 'anticipates,' 'indicates,' 'remains,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'forecast,' 'guidance,' 'outlook,' 'goals,' 'targets,' 'confident,' 'optimistic,' 'dedicated' and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. All statements, other than those that relate solely to historical facts, are forward-looking statements.
Additionally, forward-looking statements include conditional statements and statements that identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future effects of known trends or uncertainties, or that indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us on the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation.
Our actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors including, without limitation, the following: any delay or inability of the Company to realize the expected benefits of the transactions, the adverse impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity; execution risks associated with our strategic operating plan; changes in our network strategy or other factors outside our control resulting in less economic aircraft orders, costs related to modification or termination of aircraft orders or entry into less favorable aircraft orders, as well as any inability to accept or integrate new aircraft into our fleet as planned; any failure to effectively manage, and receive anticipated benefits and returns from, acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures and other portfolio actions; adverse publicity, harm to our brand, reduced travel demand, potential tort liability and voluntary or mandatory operational restrictions as a result of an accident, catastrophe or incident involving us, our regional carriers, our codeshare partners or another airline; the highly competitive nature of the global airline industry and susceptibility of the industry to price discounting and changes in capacity, including as a result of alliances, joint business arrangements or other consolidations; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers to source a majority of our aircraft and certain parts, and the impact of any failure to obtain timely deliveries, additional equipment or support from any of these suppliers; disruptions to our regional network and
The foregoing list sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could impact our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. In addition, certain forward-looking outlook provided in this press release relies on assumptions about the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timing of the return to a more stable business environment, the volatility of aircraft fuel prices, customer behavior changes and return in demand for air travel, among other things (together, the 'Recovery Process'). The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken in response may continue to impact many aspects of our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity in a number of ways, including labor shortages (including reductions in available staffing and related impacts to the Company's flight schedules and reputation), facility closures and related costs and disruptions to our and our business partners' operations, reduced travel demand and consumer spending, increased operating costs, supply chain disruptions, logistics constraints, volatility in the price of our securities, our ability to access capital markets and volatility in the global economy and financial markets generally. If the actual Recovery Process differs materially from our assumptions, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business could be worse than expected, and our actual results may be negatively impacted and may vary materially from our expectations and projections. It is routine for our internal projections and expectations to change as the year or each quarter in the year progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections, beliefs and assumptions upon which we base our expectations may change. For instance, we regularly monitor future demand and booking trends and adjust capacity, as needed. As such, our actual flown capacity may differ materially from currently published flight schedules or current estimations.
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