United Airlines has today confirmed a firm order for 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, boosting its current order backlog to roughly 700 aircraft. Alongside the firm order for 100 aircraft, the US carrier has also placed 100 more options for additional 787s. The carrier's order could include all three aircraft models, the -8, -9, and -10.

Both Airbus and Boeing appreciate any order, regardless of its size. However, there is no denying that manufacturers naturally prefer big headline-grabbing orders. After all, 100 aircraft make much more profit than one lone aircraft. As such, Boeing is likely chuffed with today's order.

Not just ordering Boeing 787s

The headline from today's Boeing and United Airlines announcement is that the airline is ordering 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options to double that figure. However, the 787 isn't the only aircraft being added to the order book.

The airline is also increasing its firm commitment to the Boeing 737 MAX. Forty-four options for the MAX have been converted to firm orders, and to top it up, United Airlines has added another 56 new orders.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

According to United Airlines, its widebody aircraft replacement needs will now be met through the next decade with today's Boeing order while allowing the airline to expand its global network over the coming years. Commenting on the order, United's CEO, Scott Kirby, remarked,

“United emerged from the pandemic as the world’s leading global airline and the flag carrier of the United States. This order further solidifies our lead and creates new opportunities for our customers, employees and shareholders by accelerating our plan to connect more people to more places around the globe and deliver the best experience in the sky.”

Meanwhile, his Boeing Commercial Airplanes counterpart, Stan Deal, added,

“With this investment in its future fleet, the 737 MAX and 787 will help United accelerate its fleet modernization and global growth strategy. The Boeing team is honored by United’s trust in our family of airplanes to connect people and transport cargo around the world for decades to come.”

So when will all these planes be delivered?

United Airlines now has around 700 brand new aircraft on order, and delivering them will be no walk in the park. It will take ten years to deliver today's Boeing 787 order. The first planes from this order will come as soon as 2024, though the last will be delivered in 2032. United has said that it hasn't quite finalized which breakdown of 787 models it will take.

Meanwhile, the 44 Boeing 737 MAX options are now due to join the fleet between 2024 and 2026. The 56 brand-new orders will take slightly longer, with delivery slated for 2027 to 2028. Next year United Airlines intends to take more than two aircraft a week on average, rising to more than three new aircraft a week in 2024.

What do you make of United Airlines' mammoth Boeing 787 order? Will it really take 200 new 787 Dreamliners? Let us know what you think and why in the comments below! Just press the blue button.

• 

  United Airlines

  Region:

  North America

  Loyalty Program:

  MileagePlus

• 

  Boeing

  Stock Code:

  BA

  Date Founded:

  1916-07-15

  CEO:

  Dave Calhoun

  Headquarters Location:

  Chicago, USA

  Key Product Lines:

  Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787

  Business Type:

  Planemaker