United Airlines Airbus A350 Order

United Airlines’ deal for the Airbus A350 has been the centre of attention for quite some time; now there’s a fresh turn of events.

Speaking at the APEX Global Expo 2025 with The Airline Observer Editor Brian Sumers, a reputable industry journalist, Scott Kirby, the United Airlines CEO, discussed a plethora of topics.

Much of the conversation focused on the long-term growth strategy, which is being implemented by the U.S. carrier, albeit with roadblocks, as delivery delays have stunted growth at the intended pace originally laid out by the business.

Despite this, United Airlines recognises the importance of growth, and with that, a focus on fleet development emerges, with the A350 once again coming into the picture.

The long-awaited doormat order, which had been seemingly shelved for quite some time, reappeared with Kirby stating that by the end of the decade, the retirement of the Boeing 767 will take place.

The 767, a true workhorse across the airline’s network, will need replacing, and Kirby said that it’s therefore the natural point to begin forming a decision whether they will take the A350 order in the 2030 timeframe.

Much of the negativity around the deal concerning the Rolls-Royce engines in 2017 now looks to the airline far less unreasonable; much of that stems from further price increases, and therefore puts the airline back in a position of consideration.

With that in mind, fundamental analysis must be conducted to determine whether the timing and economics of the 767’s retirement make the Airbus A350 possible, even after all this time.

The Airbus A350 Order

United Airlines’ A350 order holds the title as one of the most heavily delayed commercial aircraft orders to date. Now, in the mid-2020s, the deal has yet to be cancelled.

A first order for the aircraft consisted of 25 units, with the business intending on having the A350-900 help replace some of the aging aircraft in the business at that point.

With the program’s freshness, the A350 was expected to bring considerable efficiency upgrades to the business across long-haul routes and even help phase out aircraft types such as the 747.

Shortly after the deal was placed, United began evaluating its business. As part of this evaluation, the A350-900s, which were ordered, were upgauged to the yet-to-be-released high-capacity A350-1000 model, and subsequent delivery delays were confirmed.

Once more, in another turn of events, United Airlines would switch the order back to the A350-900s and increase the order, but defer the delivery into the 2020s, then pushed it back to 2027 and now it sits in the 2030s.

United Airlines Relies On Boeing?

After these deferrals and internal reviews, United Airlines’ fleet composition would undergo a shift, with a heavier reliance placed on Boeing aircraft, including the Boeing 777, which is now clearly evident through the extensive operation with the 787.

United Airlines has adopted a business model that leverages the flexibility of all three models in the 787 family for different purposes. Their interchangeable nature ensures maximum efficiency, as well as fleet commonality, something these mega airlines in the United States have struggled with over recent decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented that very opportunity to simplify fleets, and with that, United Airlines, despite obstacles in the delivery of aircraft from Boeing, pushed ahead with a continued reliance on the 787 product.

A colossal order for new Boeing 787 aircraft in 2022, which was in the three digits, placed even greater uncertainty around the acquisition of the A350.

Many onlookers argued that, while the A350 was on paper a great aircraft, adding another fleet type to the business when the Dreamliner was already carrying the weight of long-haul operations would add complexity that wasn’t necessary.

Fresh comments that the Airbus A350 is once more under consideration to act as a replacement for the Boeing 767 offer promise, but with nothing confirmed, as Scott Kirby said many years ago, either all A350s will be delivered or none.