United Airlines Nears Airbus A350 Order Decision in Fleet Upgrade Plan

United Airlines is nearing a crucial decision on its Airbus A350 order as part of a broader fleet renewal strategy. CEO Scott Kirby has stated that by the end of 2025 the airline must chart a path to replace aging Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. Though United has pushed its A350 deliveries into the 2030s, the carrier is now reassessing the order because the retirement of older fleet types will inevitably require pilot retraining. While United has heavily invested in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the A350 offers different capabilities that could significantly support its international expansion.

Chicago-based United originally placed a firm order for 25 Airbus A350-900s in 2009, which changed to 35 A350-1000s in 2013, and later was modified to 45 A350-900s in 2017. Despite these adjustments, the A350 remains on United’s books—but first deliveries are not expected until well into the 2030s.

Speaking to The Airline Observer, Kirby framed this shift as part of a wider strategic effort: with aircraft manufacturers’ order books swelling, United needs to decide about replacing the 767s and 777s by end of 2025. Many industry observers had assumed United would cancel the A350 order, especially since it has doubled down on the 787 Dreamliner, with over 140 still on order.

However, United is now evaluating operating economics, political factors, and the cost of training pilots. Because retiring its Boeing 757s and 767s will force retraining of crews regardless of which new aircraft are acquired, revisiting the A350 order may yield greater payoff than continually deferring it. “By the time we get to the end of the decade, we will be well into retiring the 767,” Kirby said. “I’m reluctant to bring a new fleet type on, for all the cost and complexity reasons. But as we are retiring the 767 and 757, we’re going to have to retrain pilots. … It’s a natural time to at least think about … turning it into a real firm order instead of continuing to defer.”

United’s current fleet replacement and modernization plan already includes 50 Airbus A321XLRs, used to replace the 757s. That leaves the 767 and 777-200 families as United’s next major fleet groups due for renewal. The airline operates 53 767s and 74 Boeing 777-200s that will need replacement. It also has 101 other widebodies in the fleet. Yet industry forecasts suggest United will require more widebody capacity than currently ordered—including more Dreamliners—to meet both replacement needs and international route growth.

Another factor, United holds a Rolls-Royce engine deal signed eight years ago. Originally seen as a burden, the contract has gained appeal amid rising costs, supply chain constraints, and post-pandemic demand. This gives weight to using aircraft types compatible with Rolls-Royce engines—potentially favoring A350 variants in some missions.

While the airline’s international expansion currently relies heavily on the 787 family, Kirby acknowledges a decision on its outstanding A350 order cannot be postponed much longer. The A350’s larger capacity and longer range could open up new mission profiles for United—making routes currently unserved or marginal by 787 standards suddenly viable.

If United ultimately confirms the Airbus order, most analysts believe it would likely balance that with additional orders for Boeing models, both to hedge industrial risk and maintain political and regulatory balance. United has historically navigated its fleet strategy between Airbus and Boeing, and a mixed fleet—if managed well—could help preserve flexibility, supplier leverage, and stakeholder support across the Atlantic.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, theairlineobserver.com