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Chicago-based 
United Airlines is expected to take delivery of up to 87 aircraft in the last three quarters of 2026, with around 55 MAX
airplanes. This will support the airline’s gradual retirement of older Airbus A319 and A320s, which these planes are expected to replace. United is the largest airline in the United States by fleet size, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
According to The Aviation Beat, the Star Alliance carrier will receive 87 new aircraft over the next nine months, with the MAX as the backbone of these deliveries. Using data from ch-aviation, United currently has a backlog of more than 123 MAX 8s, 159 MAX 9s, and 165 MAX 10s awaiting delivery.
55 More Boeing 737 MAX 9 Aircraft To Be Delivered This Year
While it is expected that another 55 MAX will be winging their way to United later this year, the airline already has 123 Boeing 737 MAX 8 in its fleet, including 120 active and 3 inactive aircraft. These have an average age of 3.4 years. Additionally, the airline’s 152 MAX 9 examples comprise 148 active and 4 inactive airframes, with another 71 on order. These have an average age of 2.8 years.
United is already the largest operator of the MAX 9, and the continued arrival of these aircraft will likely be configured in the 179-seat layout, which includes 20 Domestic First, 45 Economy Plus, and 114 Economy. These will support the gradual retirement of the Airbus A319-100 and A320-200, which UA plans to gradually remove from its fleet by the end of the decade.
What remains missing in its fleet is the yet-to-be-certified MAX 10, which has faced ongoing certification delays. The airline has a backlog of 165 of these and is considering converting some of them to MAX 8 or 9. Once delivered, the MAX 10 is configured to carry between 163 and 189 passengers.
Aircraft Orders For United Airlines
According to ch-aviation, United has more than 600 aircraft on order, comprising A321neo, A321XLR, A350-900, 737 MAX 9, MAX 10, 787-10, and 787-9. These will add to the more than 1,100 aircraft already operating within the airline’s fleet. The MAX aircraft is widely anticipated to support the retirement of aging Airbus narrowbodies, which have accumulated 24-26 years of age.
Since COVID-19, United introduced its ‘United Next’ strategy, which is an extensive plan to extend and modernize the airline’s fleet. United was the only major US carrier that maintained all its widebody aircraft during the pandemic, which enabled the airline to rebound with the surge in travel demand post-pandemic.
|
United Airlines’ Aircraft On Order |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Aircraft Type |
Current Number In Fleet |
Number On Order |
|
Airbus A321neo |
66 |
137 |
|
Airbus A321XLR |
– |
50 |
|
Airbus A350-900 |
– |
45 |
|
Boeing 737 MAX 10 |
– |
165 |
|
Boeing 737 MAX 9 |
152 |
71 |
|
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner |
21 |
56 |
|
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
52 |
80 |
With deliveries of the A321XLR set to begin this year, this will also accelerate the retirement of the 757-200, which is nearing 29 years of active service.
20 New 787s In 2026: United Set For Largest Widebody Intake In Decades
United’s new premium-heavy 787s are arriving thick and fast.
500 Aircraft Orders Since 2021
As part of United Next, the airline has placed orders for more than 500 new aircraft, including 350 narrowbody and 150 widebody aircraft. United Next also looks to retire older mainline aircraft and up to 200 regional jets.
As part of this strategy, it will aim to improve the overall customer experience, including the airline’s signature interior concepts featuring seatback entertainment, Bluetooth connectivity, and power outlets in every seat. Overhead storage bins will be designed to accommodate roller cabin bags for each passenger.
High-speed internet connectivity will be via SpaceX’s Starlink and will support live streaming, cloud-based work applications, and complementary access for all passengers.
