United Airlines orders 25 more Boeing 737-700 planes

Earlier this month, United Airlines – a commercial company that, along with sister company United Express, averages nearly 5,000 flights each day to 342 airports across six continents – said it had ordered 25 more Boeing 737-700 planes.

The new order came on the heels of another recent order for 40 of the planes. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to United in the last quarter of 2017. The new planes are part of United’s plan to use larger, more efficient planes and to cut the number of 50-seat planes in its regional fleet, which company officials estimate will consist of fewer than 100 planes by the close of 2019.

Boeing’s 737-700 features enhanced cabins, larger overhead bins for additional carry-on bags and the exclusive Boeing Sky Interior that has sculpted sidewall panels and LED cabin lighting in sky blue and sunset colors to create the illusion of increased space.

United officials said the airline’s 747 fleet will be retired, and all of those planes will be out of service by the end of 2018. The airline had ordered 787 planes from Boeing that were scheduled to be delivered in 2020; the company replaced that order with a request for four 777-300 ERs and five 787-9's. Delivery of those aircraft will commence in 2017.

“The new 737-700 aircraft are ideal for our fleet as we continue to reduce our reliance on 50-seat aircraft,” Gerry Laderman, United senior vice president of finance and acting chief financial officer, said. “Retiring the 747 fleet and replacing those aircraft with more customer-pleasing, current-generation aircraft creates a more reliable and efficient fleet that provides a better overall experience for our customers traveling on long-haul flights.”

Also on order for United are 153 aircraft from the Boeing 737 family, 35 Airbus A350-1000s, 27 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777-300ERs. The airline also has orders in for 10 Embraer E175 aircraft.