United to focus on B787s as widebody “workhorse”

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O’Hare) has firmed up options for seven B787s for delivery in 2021 as its looks to anchor its widebody operations around the type in the post-COVID recovery phase. While it revealed the conversion in its quarterly report, United did not disclose the exact variant ordered. As of March 31, 2020, the airline had ten outstanding B787-9s and two B787-10s on firm order from Boeing, with the tally exclusive of these recent conversions. It said that following the conversion, 11 aircraft are due to deliver by the end of 2020 (of which one B787-10 was delivered in mid-April) with the remaining eight due next year. In a memo sent to staff, Senior Vice-President (Flight Operations) Bryan Quigley said that United’s network will also be consolidated. To that end, the B787 base at Los Angeles Int’l will temporarily close, affecting as many as 250 pilots. Under the US CARES Act, the airline will not be laying off any staff members through September 30, 2020, in order to remain eligible for federal payroll support. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, United currently operates twelve B787-8s, twenty-nine -9s, and thirteen -10s. Other widebodies in its fleet include thirty-eight B767-300(ER)s, and sixteen B767-400(ER)s as well as nineteen B777-200s, fifty-five -200(ER)s, twenty-two B777-300(ER)s.