United Airlines Buys 25 Additional 737 Max Aircraft

Originally published on AeroXplorer

TheExplorerBlog | Javy Nolasco

United Airlines announced on Monday that it had placed an order for an additional 25 new 737 Max airplanes as it positions its fleet for a travel rebound. All 25 of these new Max airplanes are scheduled for delivery in 2023. With the new jets, United will fly 210 Max planes once deliveries are completed. In addition, United said it moved up the delivery of 40 other Max planes to 2022 and five others to 2023.

United plans to use the jet throughout North America and in Hawaii, replacing smaller airplanes as travel demand returns. The plane will help United restart its strategy of strengthening connections at hub airports in the middle of the country such as Chicago, Houston, and Denver.

The order is a vote of confidence in Boeing after two fatal 737 Max crashes triggered a 20-month safety ban that the FAA lifted last November. At the time of the March 2019 grounding, United had 14 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets in its fleet. In December, the airline started receiving the planes from Boeing, the first carrier to do so. It started commercial flights with those aircraft last month.

The airline's move is the latest indication that the industry is planning for travel demand to revive as more people are vaccinated. The number of people passing through airports in the United States has risen in recent weeks, even though passenger volume remains 50% to 60% below pre-pandemic levels.