, the United Airlines fleet consists of 1,143 mainline aircraft, the largest of any airline worldwide. United Airlines operates a mix of narrow-body aircraft from Airbus and Boeing and all Boeing wide-body aircraft with more wide-bodies than any other North American passenger airline. The average age of United's fleet is 14.9 years.
Strategy The "United Next" strategy introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic is United Airlines' plan to modernize and expand its fleet while enhancing operational efficiency and the passenger experience. Unlike other major U.S. airlines, United retained its wide-body aircraft during the pandemic, allowing the airline to meet the surge in travel demand, especially internationally as recovery progressed.
Since 2021, United has placed orders for over 500 various narrow-body jets and 150 wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets as part of its strategy, which also includes retiring older mainline aircraft and at least 200 single-class regional jets.
The strategy emphasizes improving the passenger experience. United's "Signature Interior" concept features seatback entertainment systems with Bluetooth connectivity, power outlets at every seat, and larger overhead bins designed to accommodate a roller bag for each passenger. All new aircraft will include the updated interior, with retrofitting of existing mainline aircraft. United has also selected SpaceX's Starlink as its in-flight internet connectivity provider for mainline and two-class regional aircraft. This high-speed, low-latency satellite internet service will enable live streaming, cloud-based work applications, and gaming with complimentary access provided to all passengers.
United Airlines has also invested in and secured options for several aircraft under development. These include options to purchase 100 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft from Archer Aviation and 200 eVTOL aircraft from Eve Air Mobility, a division of Embraer. Furthermore, the airline has committed to purchasing 100 ES-30 electric turboprop regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace, with options to purchase up to 50 more. United has also committed to purchasing 15 Boom Overture supersonic aircraft, with options to purchase up to 35 more.
Fleet , United Airlines operates the following mainline aircraft: + United Airlines fleetAircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengers NotesTotalRefsAirbus A319-10067——12—3678126To be retired by 2030.Airbus A320-20063——12—4296150Airbus A321neo7482—20—57123200Deliveries until 2032.—5020—12129161"Coastliner" transcontinental configuration.Deliveries to begin in 2026.Airbus A321XLR24820—123682150Replacing Boeing 757-200.Airbus A350-900—45TBADeliveries delayed until at least 2028 due to dispute with engine supplier Rolls-Royce.Boeing 737-70040——12—3678126Boeing 737-800141——16—48102166421085496Boeing 737-90012——20—45114179Boeing 737-900ER136——20—451141794211739120Boeing 737 MAX 8123——16—549616614164Guam-based configuration.Boeing 737 MAX 918143—20—45114179Largest operator.—167—20—64105189Production halted amid certification uncertainties; orders may be converted to MAX 8 or 9. Deliveries to begin in 2027.22—4596163Boeing 757-20040—16——42118176To be replaced by Airbus A321XLR.Boeing 757-30021——24—54156234Largest operator.Boeing 767-300ER13—30—24321131992446224356167Boeing 767-400ER16—34—2448125231Boeing 777-20019———102234364Launch customer and largest operator.Domestic configuration.Boeing 777-200ER51—50—24461562764——124206362Domestic configuration.Boeing 777-300ER22—60—2462204350Boeing 787-812—28—2136158243Boeing 787-9483748—2139149257Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |url=https://www.united.com/en/us/newsroom/announcements/cision-125449 |access-date=July 20, 202613346435339022250 OptionsBoeing 787-10215644—2154199318Orders converted from 787-9. Deliveries begin in 2028.Total1,143562
Gallery
Historical fleet + United Airlines former fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredReplacement NotesBoeing 40A19271937Launch customer.Operated by Boeing Air TransportBohl, Walt: Boeing model 40 and its descendants and Varney Air Lines.Boeing 80A19281934Launch customer.Operated by Boeing Air Transport.Boeing 24759United: The Main Line Airway by George Cearley, Jr19331942Launch customer.All base models were built for United Airlines.Boeing 377 Stratocruiser719501954Boeing 7202919601976Boeing 727-200Launch customer.Boeing 727-10012619631993Boeing 737-500Three crashed as Flight 389, Flight 227, and Flight 266.Boeing 727-20010419682001Airbus A320 familyBombardier CRJ-700Boeing 737-20010119682001Launch customer.Two crashed as Flight 553 and Flight 585.Boeing 737-30010319862009Boeing 737-50073199020092920102013Boeing 737-900ERFormer Continental Airlines fleet.Boeing 747-1002319701999Boeing 747-400Boeing 777-200/200EROne was damaged as Flight 811, but was later repaired and re-registered as N4724U. Another was damaged as Flight 826.Boeing 747-200B1019872000Boeing 747SP1119851995Boeing 747-400Boeing 767-300ERBoeing 777-200Former Pan Am fleet.Boeing 747-4004419892017Boeing 777-200ERBoeing 777-300ERLargest operator of Boeing 747-400 in United States.Boeing 757-2009919892020Boeing 737-900ERAirbus A321neoOne hijacked and crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania as United Airlines Flight 93, as part of the September 11 attacks. 40 remain in service as of 2026.Boeing 767-2001919822005Boeing 757-200Boeing 767-300ERBoeing 777-200Launch customer. Many were later upgraded to -ER standards. One hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center as Flight 175, as part of the September 11 attacks.Boeing 767-200ER1020102013Former Continental Airlines fleet.Boeing 767-300ER319912022Boeing 787 DreamlinerOne scrapped due to paint corrosion. 37 remain in service as of 2026. Boeing 777-200319952006One sold to Air India Two sold to VarigBoeing 777-200ER519972005Three sold to Air India Two sold to VarigConvair 3405219521968Douglas DC-311819361956Convair 340Douglas DC-43619461957Douglas DC-4E119391939NoneUsed in trial service only.Douglas DC-69019461969Douglas DC-6BDouglas DC-75719541966Two crashed as Flight 718 and Flight 736.Douglas DC-8-10219591961NoneTwo crashed as Flight 826 and Flight 859.Douglas DC-8-203019591982Boeing 727-200McDonnell Douglas DC-8-301119671974McDonnell Douglas DC-8-5018195919831519641987NoneCargo fleet.Two crashed as Flight 2860 and Flight 2885.McDonnell Douglas DC-8-604119671991Boeing 757-200One crashed as Flight 173.McDonnell Douglas DC-8-70Ford Trimotor1931Operated on a transcontinental route between New York City and San Francisco.Laird Swallow J-5Single seat biplane used to carry US Air Mail (CAM 5) by predecessor Varney Air Lines.Lockheed L-1011 TriStar619861989Boeing 747-100McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30Former Pan Am fleet.All aircraft were sold to Delta Air Lines.McDonnell Douglas DC-10-104819712001Boeing 757-200Boeing 767-300ERBoeing 777-200Launch customer.One crashed as Flight 232.McDonnell Douglas DC-10-3071983200141997NoneConverted into freighters for the short-lived "United Airlines Worldwide Cargo" service.Sud Aviation Caravelle2019611970Boeing 727Boeing 737-200Only U.S. operator in scheduled passenger service. Used to operate "Executive" service between Chicago and Newark restricted to men only passengers. Also operated on other United domestic services.Vickers Viscount4819611969Former Capital Airlines aircraft.Only mainline turboprop aircraft type ever operated by United Airlines.
References
Sources
Taylor, H. A. "Boeing's Trend-Setting 247". Air Enthusiast, No. 9, February–May 1979, pp. 43–54. .