United Airlines Rejects The Boeing 777X

United Airlines has said it has no interest in taking Boeing’s early-build 777-9s, shutting down speculation that it might swoop in to collect up to 20 of the model.

The turning down of the 777X centres around 20 units that are considered to be early builds and have been rejected by other airlines such as Emirates due to their age and software requirement upgrades before delivery.

Where The Talk Of a United Deal Came From

Reports began last week that United Airlines was circling for early 777-9s, flagged by Leeham News and sources; there was the belief that as many as 20 of the early jets built between 2019 and 2021 for the new long-haul model were of interest and evaluations were ongoing.

The jets were effectively turned down by the likes of Emirates, who have made it clear they will not bring on aircraft that are already seven years of age and come with a plethora of configuration enhancements. For them, widebodies are a flagship, and having a jet delivered already at the halfway mark of its life within the airline is not a worthwhile investment.

As a consequence, and thanks to Boeing’s own misjudgement over the 777X certification delays, the models it has built earlier in the life of the jet, if not scrapped like WH007, which was also destined for Emirates, now have an uncertain period ahead.

Likened to a baked bean tin, Clark’s argument on these 777-9s doesn’t mean there isn’t an opportunity for another airline to swoop in and get a deal for the flagship widebody. At the same time, any possible contract would allow securing already built jets, meaning that, aside from rework and approval, they can be handed over sooner than a new-build.

The rumoured United Airlines interest made sense per analysts, but was never guaranteed to happen. United flies the 777-300ER and the 777-200ER, a key pillar to its widebody fleet and long-haul operations. However, while ageing, the airline has focused its renewal heavily on the 787 Dreamliner, with all three models present.

The 787 Dreamliner’s next-generation capabilities have been leveraged to allow the U.S carrier not just maximum efficiency but also flexibility when conducting its operations. Bringing on the 777-9, while it may happen later down the line, would add complexity to crew, fleet, and maintenance planning but was worth evaluating.

United Says No To The 777X For Now

According to reputable The Air Current, United Airlines has now informed Boeing and analysts that it holds no interest in taking early-build 777-9s that are awaiting the change incorporation and will not therefore rescue the frames.

For any airline looking at this opportunity, there are multiple risks involved. The early-build 777-9s carry different modifications and, beyond that, have more exposure than later planes produced from the same family. Even if they are reworked, their maintenance-intensive history and parkings can prove less desirable than a variant considered a flagship.

United Airlines has also lived through headaches of new aircraft acquisitions in its time, especially for the 787 Dreamliner, and at times during risk assessments, those findings conclude the best decision is to walk away.

Cost and reward are another angle for operators like the U.S. carrier. Boeing is dedicated to working on the change incorporation line for the early 777-9s that have been built, but this will take some time and paying for the rework will be another challenge if these jets are undesirable for customers.

United Airlines, if taking on the aircraft, would be forced to deal with the unique challenges that come with the early builds, and at this stage, for the renewal of its widebody fleet, not only are the 787s crucial, but its long-doormat A350 order needs to be evaluated with an end decision.

The 777X also remains in a certification battle, working through the final phases, while the current build 777-9s are nearing their 2027 EIS timeline; the early builds are likely to come under extra scrutiny due to their change requirements.

Therefore, an operator taking on the jet that has been vocal about safety and high-quality aircraft may prefer to see a clean line of deliveries in their final standard configuration.

Just because United Airlines turns down early build models doesn’t mean the 777X has been rejected forever, with the possible need in the future for a more high-capacity option on the network through hubs. Ultimately, United needs to evaluate when the time comes if its current mix is best.