United Airlines has recently ordered 25 new 737-700 airplanes from Boeing. This is an additional purchase from the previous purchase requisition of 40 737-700 aircrafts.
The airline service company expects the first deliveries of the planes by the end of this year.
This new fleet of 737-700s will allow United Airlines to sustain its utilization of bigger and more efficient aircrafts amidst the downsizing of its regional fleet of 50-seaters. The company wants no more than 50 airplanes in this fleet by the end of 2019.
By this recent move, the commercial airline company is accelerating the retirement of its Boeing 747 fleet. These old aircrafts will be removed from the company's airline service by the end of 2018, although their pilots as well as their regular customers have grown to love them.
Going with the industry trend, United Airlines is replacing its 747 fleet with fresh, more efficient and easier-to-maintain airplanes. Through this initiative, the company will jettison one of the remaining elements of a time when flying was nearly one half of the fun of travelling.
But for carrier services which haul cargo, the big 747s remains a favorite. With their retirement in United's fleet however, squeezed and harried passengers will find them more and more of a rarity.
In addition, United announced that it is changing its orders for Boeing 787s into four 777-300ERs and five787-9s starting in 2017. These changes are designed to effect a smooth transition even with the accelerated retirement of the company's old 747s and still meet the capacity requirements of the airline service.
In a company statement, Gerry Laderman, United Airlines Senior Vice President and acting Chief Financial Officer said that the new Boeing 777s and 787s that will replace the old 747s are "more customer-pleasing," and will offer "a better overall experience for our customers."
