United Airlines to Lease 20 A321neo from SMBC Aviation

United Airlines has finalized a dry-lease agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital for 20 Airbus A321-200NX aircraft. While the deal was signed in April 2024, the lessor’s identity was only recently disclosed. The aircraft will be delivered from SMBC’s Airbus order book between 2026 and 2027, reported ch-aviation.com.

SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies, currently manages a significant portfolio of Airbus A321neo variants, including 41 A321-200NX aircraft. Additionally, it has 52 more A321neos on order, including five long-range (LR) models. United Airlines has already leased 20 Boeing 737-8s from SMBC, further solidifying their partnership.

United operates 15 A321-200NX aircraft and has directly ordered 115 more from Airbus. In April, the airline revealed plans to lease an additional 35 A321-200NX planes, including those from this newly disclosed SMBC agreement. The airline also has 50 A321-200NY(XLR) aircraft on order, reinforcing its commitment to modernizing and expanding its fleet with the fuel-efficient A321neo family.

This move reflects United Airlines’ ongoing strategy to enhance its operational efficiency and expand its narrow-body fleet for domestic and international routes.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com, united.com, SMBC Aviation Capital