United Will Buy Planes From Boeing, ‘Re-Energize’ Newark Routes

NEWARK, NJ — A “historic” purchase agreement between United Airlines and Boeing is expected to give a shot in the arm to the airline’s routes throughout the U.S., including those at Newark Airport, the company announced Tuesday.

According to United, it has inked the largest widebody order by a U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history: 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners – with options to purchase 100 more. United expects to take delivery of the new widebody planes between 2024 and 2032.

Andrew Nocella, United’s chief commercial officer, said the airline’s widebody fleet will be “re-energized” by this week’s deal.

The Chicago-based airline maintains a heavy presence at Newark Airport, where it has a hub.

United also exercised options to purchase 44 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2026, and ordered 56 more MAX aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028. The airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebody aircraft by the end of 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and more than three every week in 2024.

In the past two years, United has been beefing up its international presence, adding 13 new international destinations, 40 new international routes and extra trips to 10 existing international routes. This expansion includes service to London-Heathrow, where the airline added five new daily flights, for a total of 23 daily flights planned for summer of 2023, including an hourly shuttle there from New York/Newark.

United now serves double-digit international destinations from each of its U.S. hubs, the airline said:

• 78 via Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• 56 via George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• 45 via Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
• 41 via Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• 32 via San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• 18 via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• 17 via Denver International Airport (DEN)

Approximately 100 planes of the new widebody order are expected to replace older Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with all 767 aircraft removed from the United fleet by 2030, resulting in up to an expected 25 percent decrease in carbon emissions per seat for the new planes compared to the older planes they are expected to replace, the company said. Read More: United Airlines Says It Will Be '100% Green' By 2050

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The newest purchase agreement with Boeing is also expected to lead to “increased hiring,” United Airlines said, noting that it hired 15,000 people in 2022 and is on track to add another 15,000 next year. Read More: United Airlines Wants To Train More Female, Minority Pilots

In 2023, United expects to hire for more than 2,100 new jobs in Newark and New York City, the company said. It also plans to hire at other U.S. hubs, including:

• 2,600+ new jobs in Chicago / ORD
• 2,200+ new jobs in San Francisco / SFO
• 1,800+ new jobs in Houston / IAH
• 1,800+ new jobs in Denver / DEN
• 1,100+ new jobs in Washington, D.C. / IAD
• 400+ new jobs in Los Angeles / LAX

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