WORLD
United orders 50 new Airbus long-range jets to replace Boeing 757s
Baku, December 4, AZERTAC
United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) announced on Tuesday an order for 50 Airbus SE (AIR.PA) A321XLR jets to fly between the U.S East Coast and Europe, becoming the latest U.S. airline to ink a deal for the European planemaker’s new passenger jet, according to Reuters.
The long-range A321XLR jets will replace United’s 53 Boeing 757-200 planes beginning in 2024, the Chicago-based planemaker said, flying to cities like Porto, Portugal and other potential new destinations.
United’s 757 planes will reach the end of their lifespan in about a decade and Boeing Co (BA.N) is not building any more of the large single-aisle model.
Instead, the U.S. planemaker has been considering a new twin-aisle plane, provisionally known as the NMA, but has delayed a launch decision until 2020 while it manages the ongoing global grounding of its 737 MAX jets following two fatal crashes.
United’s chief operating officer Andrew Nocella told reporters the airline has worked closely with Boeing on the potential new aircraft and is still open to orders if the planemaker decides to move forward with developing the NMA.