United Boss Revealed Why Say "Goodbye" to Boeing and turn to Airbus!
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#fligavia #boeing #airbus
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United Boss Revealed Why Say "Goodbye" to Boeing and turn to Airbus!
United Airlines, one of the three LARGEST airlines in the United States with a long-time collaboration with Boeing, has long been a symbol of their unstoppable alliance. But in a STUNNING turn of events, the airline recently announced the NEW plan, while also SURPRISING everyone by NOT collaborating with Boeing, but instead with their biggest rival. Why? How will this impact the airline’s future operations? Let’s dive into this electrifying story in today’s episode!
The Potential Aircraft
United Boss Revealed Why Say "Goodbye" to Boeing and turn to Airbus!
Since its debut in 2019, the Airbus A321 XLR, the latest narrow-body aircraft from Airbus, has captured the attention of dozens of airlines worldwide, with over 550 orders placed. This reflects the airlines' confidence in its potential as an optimal solution for long-haul flights.
The A321 XLR is designed to be a reliable "workhorse" for long-haul routes, connecting smaller and lower-demand markets where wide-body aircraft would not be economically viable. Equipped with additional fuel tanks, the Airbus new aircraft can fly continuously up to 5,400 miles, or approximately 11 hours, surpassing the 4,600-mile range of its predecessor, the Airbus A321 LR. This capability opens up new opportunities for airlines to expand their route networks, particularly between cities or regions that previously could not be efficiently connected with existing aircraft.
United's Strategy
United Boss Revealed Why Say "Goodbye" to Boeing and turn to Airbus!
United has ordered 50 A321 XLR aircraft to replace its aging Boeing 757 fleet. The airline currently operates 61 Boeing aircraft, with an average age of about 24 years.
Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United, has stated that it will take over nearly all of the existing 757 routes and open up new ones. The first XLR for United is expected to be delivered on December 2025. "We use the 757 to fly to smaller markets like Tenerife, Spain, and Reykjavik," he said, adding a Boeing 767 or a Boeing 787 wouldn't make sense on these thinner-demand routes. "The 757 is getting a bit uneconomic, but we want to continue flying to these cities, and the XLR aircraft is longer-ranged and has much better fuel burn and maintenance costs."
United Boss Revealed Why Say "Goodbye" to Boeing and turn to Airbus!
The question is whether the A321 XLR can effectively replace the Boeing aircraft in this role.
The company has indicated that the XLR will primarily serve international flights. A company representative also noted that the only domestic route where United regularly uses the 757 is from Denver to Lihue, Hawaii. Although there could be changes, the company does not plan to replace this route with the XLR. The route from Newark, New Jersey to Lima is also under review. Customers can expect the XLR to operate on Boeing aircraft routes to destinations such as Faro and Porto in Portugal, Malaga in Spain, Edinburgh in Scotland, and Shannon in Ireland.