United Airlines to Buy 50 Jets From Airbus
December 03 2019 - 9:04PM
Dow Jones News
By Alison Sider
United Airlines Holdings Inc. struck a deal to buy 50 long-range
Airbus SE jets to replace its aging fleet of Boeing Co. 757s, which
are due to be retired in the coming years.
The airline will use the single-aisle A321XLR jets beginning in
2024 to fly from its hubs near New York and Washington, D.C., to
European destinations, United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew
Nocella said Tuesday. He said the aircraft will likely open up new
routes with its longer flying capability.
Mr. Nocella said United hasn't ruled out buying Boeing's
proposed midsize aircraft, known as the NMA. Boeing has yet to
decide whether to build the jet as it focuses on returning the 737
MAX to service after two recent fatal crashes. It had hoped to have
the new midsize plane in service by around 2025.
"We'll take a close look at that aircraft," Mr. Nocella told
reporters on a conference call.
The Chicago-based carrier's order is a setback for Boeing, which
has fallen behind Airbus in their annual contest for orders and
deliveries, and highlights gaps in its product lineup.
Mr. Nocella told reporters that Boeing -- also based in Chicago
-- didn't have a jet to compete with the A321XLR, which can fly up
to 4,700 miles, more than the Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets that United
already has on order. Boeing didn't respond to a request for
comment.
Airbus said at the Paris Air Show this year that it would
develop the long- range version of its A321. Airlines including
JetBlue Airways Corp. and American Airlines Group Inc. have already
announced orders for the long-range plane.
Write to Alison Sider at alison.sider@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 03, 2019 20:49 ET (01:49 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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