What Is United's Fleet Size?

[TravelDude]

From Media Report:
Of a total fleet of 400 or so, about 72 planes will be repainted by the end of the year.

The rest will take several years, executives said on a conference call, as the airline limits the repainting to the currently outlined painting schedule.

``It's obviously a cost issue,'' said Graham Atkinson, senior vice president of worldwide sales and alliances.

The last publicly available figure for United's fleet size was 539 planes but the airline is continuing to reject aircraft leases as the complex bankruptcy process continues.

Anyone know how many aircraft have been rejected so far? Or I can ask this question another way. Anyone know what the current fleet size is?

WHY IS THIS SUCH A SECRET? (They are big and expensive!)

 

[Fly]

TravelDude Posted on Feb 18 2004, 03:25 PM

WHY IS THIS SUCH A SECRET? (They are big and expensive!)

Because we haven't finished counting! 😛

 

[boeing787]

563

 

[TravelDude]

563....it grew???

 

[boeing787]

It was never 400 my friend at least not lately. My figure was slightlyl high I believe it's in the 525-545 range. In Sept 2001 they had about 641 a/c parked 96 older models and have parked some 400s 777s and 767s. That leaves us in the range mentioned earlier. Time will tell what will happen but my guess is that number is correct. Upon emergence from BK I'm hearing stuff about add'l Airbus a/c.

 

[TravelDude]

I've also heard rumor of additional A320/A319s once out of BK.

But, follow up question, does UA have plans to reduce/eliminate the 737 fleet? Any airline buffs who can tell us what the oldest? youngest? and average age of the 733/735 fleet is?

I cannot remember where I read it, but I believe someone stated 4 737s were in the process of D checks and new livery paint. So, I am guessing that means there are no plans to eliminate the 737 fleet during BK.

 

[boeing787]

300s started coming in 1988...500s early to mid 90s. They plan on keeping most of them (thank you Indy Air). Ted will continue to grow and take on the LCCs probably with a deal like JBLU got. Who knows when they will actually start paying for their planes...can't wait to see that stock when it happens. UAL should be in a great position once out of BK. Ready to expand and exploit their rivals weaknesses. Of course UAL has weaknesses itself but it has managed to dump a lot of debt, debt it's competitors have.

 

[TravelDude]

Boeing 787, thanks for the great info.

 

[mga707]

Boeing 787, thanks for the great info.

The info wasn't totally accurate. the first three UA 737-322s, N301/302/303UA, were delivered in November 1986 (not 88). The last ones (N399/202/203UA) were delivered almost four years later, October 1990.
The 737-522 deliveries followed immediately, starting in November 1990 (N901/902/903UA), until August 1993 (N956/957UA).
You can figure out the average ages from that.