United Airlines (UAL Nasdaq) said Tuesday it is ordering 100 Boeing (BA NYSE) 787 Dreamliners and 100 737 MAXs as it pushes for post-pandemic growth and replaces older, less-efficient aircraft.
The Chicago-based airline’s order for 200 airplanes is worth about $43 billion at list prices and represents a big boost to the U.S. planemaker after political and production issues for the two planes this year.
United said its new order for 100 737 MAX airplanes consists of exercising options to purchase 44 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2026 and 56 additional MAX aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028. United now has a total of 443 MAXs on order. United’s big bet on the 787 reflects expectations for continued rising demand for long-haul travel and a desire to replace older airplanes. This aircraft order is estimated to result in a capital expenditure of $20 billion over the next two years.
United plans to again delay its previously announced order for 45 Airbus A350s until 2030 “at the earliest.”
