United Airlines expands rapidly with new deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

The transition is not due to reductions in its existing NG fleet but rather an expansion of new-generation jets. United is phasing out some aging Airbus A320-200 aircraft while growing its overall number of Boeing narrowbodies. As a result, more than half of United's current mainline fleet consists of various models from the Boeing 737 family.

United’s growth strategy includes upgauging—deploying larger aircraft such as the MAX 9 on existing routes while shifting smaller planes to start new services or replace even smaller types elsewhere in its network. The MAX 9 seats up to 179 passengers and fits between other popular single-aisle models like the MAX 8 (166 seats) and Airbus A321neo (200 seats). Although not as large as the A321neo in capacity or fuel efficiency per seat, United values the lower overall fuel burn rate and flexibility offered by the MAX 9 for its route structure.

Despite this focus on expanding its MAX fleet, United originally intended for the even larger Boeing 737 MAX 10 to become a key part of its domestic growth plans. However, delays in certification and delivery have led CEO Scott Kirby to remove this variant from internal planning schedules for now. Entry into service for the MAX 10 is currently targeted for sometime in 2026.

As a result of these delays—and continued need for newer jets—many orders initially placed for the MAX 10 have been converted back to additional orders for the MAX 9. Presently, United holds orders for another167 units of what will eventually become their most numerous model type within their mainline fleet.

United Airlines was founded in1931and today operates major hubs at Chicago O’Hare International Airport along with several other locations including Denver International Airport,Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport,and Newark Liberty International Airport among others.