United Airlines prepares retirement plan for aging Boeing 757 fleet

Although modern aircraft are more fuel-efficient than the aging 757s, United benefits from having fully paid off these older jets, which helps improve financial returns. Among U.S. carriers, only Delta Air Lines operates a larger fleet of Boeing 757s.

The performance characteristics of the Boeing 757 have also contributed to its longevity at United. The plane is known for its powerful engines and ability to operate efficiently on shorter runways and in challenging conditions such as hot or humid weather. Its design shares similarities with the Boeing 767, which allows for reduced training and maintenance costs across both types.

United plans to retire its remaining Boeing 757s by the end of 2026 as it transitions to newer models. The airline has ordered Airbus A321XLR aircraft as replacements for transatlantic routes and will use the Boeing 737 MAX 10 for high-capacity domestic services once certification issues are resolved. The first A321XLR delivery is expected early next year.

Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, explained: "We use the 757 to fly to smaller markets like Tenerife, Spain, and Reykjavik. The 757 is getting a bit uneconomic, but we want to continue flying to these cities, and the A321XLR is longer-ranged and has much better fuel burn and maintenance costs."

Boeing stopped producing the 757 in October 2004 after delivering more than a thousand units since its introduction in December 1982. While there have been discussions about developing a direct replacement for many years—often referred to as a New Midsize Aircraft (NMA)—no such program has materialized so far. Airbus has filled this gap with its A321XLR model.

With most global passenger airlines retiring their fleets or planning phase-outs soon, especially outside Delta Air Lines and United Airlines networks, cargo operators have increasingly converted retired passenger versions into freighters.

As United moves forward with new aircraft orders from Airbus and awaits delayed deliveries from Boeing due to ongoing certification challenges with some models (including engine anti-ice system issues), it marks an approaching end for one of aviation’s longstanding narrowbody workhorses.