United Airlines in 2025! Expansion??
United Airlines (UA) 787-9 Dreamliner taking off from LAX (Two Spirit Airlines’ A321 is seen in the background)
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air travel! Today, we’re analyzing the aggressive approach to expansion of United Airlines!
United Airlines (UA) is not only the world’s largest airline by mainline fleet size, but they operate a diverse fleet of a massive number consisting of a jaw-dropping 1,018 aircraft as of April 2025. UA operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body jets while exclusively operating Boeing wide-body aircraft.
Notably, United has retained the most wide-body aircraft among U.S. carriers, highlighting its dominant presence in international long-haul travel.
Under its “United Next” strategy, the airline has focused on fleet modernization, retiring older aircraft while introducing hundreds of new Boeing and Airbus jets.
At the same time, United has made aggressive network adjustments, particularly for the Summer 2025 travel season, optimizing routes and enhancing capacity across its global hubs.
As of April 2025, this year, United Airlines operates a mainline fleet of 1,018 aircraft, making it the largest airline in the world by sheer fleet size alone (this is excluding the United Express subsidiary, outside the mainline fleet). The carrier continues to modernize its fleet, focusing on efficiency and passenger comfort while phasing out older aircraft in favor of next-generation models which is the very best methodology of business expansion.
For example: in 2024, United Airlines received 36 new Boeing aircraft, the most of any airline worldwide. These deliveries, primarily consisting of 737 MAX variants, show United’s aggressive fleet expansion.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of United’s current mainline fleet:
Narrow-Body (short- to mid-haul) Aircraft In Service
Boeing 777-300ER flagship of United taking off from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
Airbus A319-100 – 81 in service (21 to be retired in 2025)
Airbus A320-200 – 76 in service
Airbus A321neo – 36 in service, 94 on order (deliveries through 2032)
Airbus A321XLR – 50 on order (deliveries start next year in 2026)
Boeing 737-700 – 40 in service
Boeing 737-800 – 141 in service
Boeing 737-900 – 12 in service
Boeing 737-900ER – 136 in service
Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 116 in service, 7 on order
Boeing 737 MAX 9 – 94 in service, 129 on order (largest operator)
Boeing 737 MAX 10 – 167 on order (launch customer, awaiting certification)
Boeing 757-200 – 40 in service (to be replaced by A321XLR)
Boeing 757-300 – 21 in service (world’s largest operator)
United’s narrow-body fleet is undergoing a commendable transformation, with hundreds of new 737 MAX and A321neo/XLR aircraft replacing older models. The 737 MAX 9 has become the airline’s workhorse, while the A321XLR will gradually replace the Boeing 757 on long transcontinental and transatlantic routes.
Wide-Body (long-haul) Aircraft In Service
Airbus A350-900XWB – 45 on order (deliveries pushed back from Airbus until at least 2030)
Boeing 767-300ER – 37 in service (to be replaced by Boeing 787)
Boeing 767-400ER – 16 in service
Boeing 777-200 – 19 in service (domestic configuration only, flying routes from - example - Houston {IAH} to Honolulu {HNL})
Boeing 777-200ER – 55 in service (to be replaced by Airbus A350-900)
Boeing 777-300ER – 22 in service
Boeing 787-8 – 12 in service, (145 Boeing 787s on order from Boeing)
Boeing 787-9 – 43 in service
Boeing 787-10 – 21 in service
United is the largest operator of wide-body aircraft among U.S. airlines in the world and has committed to a significant fleet renewal plan. The airline is rapidly expanding its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which will replace aging Boeing 767s as well as older 777 variants such as the 777-200 and 777-200ER/LR.
Additionally, United still has the Airbus A350-900s on order, which is expected to eventually replace the 777-200ER fleet. A very fluid transition.
Fleet Outlook (2025+)
United’s fleet renewal program focuses on enhancing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and improving the passenger experience. Over the next decade, the airline will continue its transition toward next-generation aircraft, with a particular emphasis on:
Expanding the 737 MAX family while retiring older 737NGs and 757s.
Deploying the A321XLR for premium transatlantic and high-demand domestic routes.
Phasing out 767s and older 777s, replacing them with a growing fleet of Boeing 787s.
With a record 637 aircraft on order, United is making one of the most aggressive fleet investments in its history, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the global aviation market.
Flightline of United and Delta aircraft at SFO (San Francisco, CA)
International Route Changes – This Summer (2025)
United Airlines’ short-haul 737-800 (NG) on takeoff from IAH (Houston)
United Airlines is making strategic adjustments to its long-haul international network, particularly focusing on demand-driven seasonal flights. Key changes include:
Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Athens (ATH): Seasonal flights resume early (May 1), upgraded to Boeing 787-10.
Barcelona (BCN): Service returns ahead of schedule (April 21), initially with a 787-10, switching to a 787-8.
Dublin (DUB): Aircraft changes from 757-200 to 787-8.
Milan (MXP): Service resumes April 7, operated by a 787-8.
San Francisco (SFO)
Auckland (AKL): Operated thrice weekly with a 777-200ER, replacing the 787-9.
Brisbane (BNE): Temporarily daily service (March- May and September onwards) using a 777-200ER.
Barcelona (BCN): Now operated with a 787-10 instead of a 777-200ER.
Newark (EWR)
Athens (ATH): Additional three-weekly flights from March 31 using 767-300ER.
Bilbao (BIO): New seasonal three-weekly service using a 757-200.
Palermo (PMO): New three-weekly service using a 767-400ER. (See my EWR-BER flight review for the Boeing 767-400ER experience in Polaris class)
Nuuk (GOH): New twice-weekly flights using a 737 MAX 8 (June-September). - Only Greenland flight(s) offered by US carriers.
Los Angeles (LAX)
Beijing (PEK): New three-weekly 787-9 service from May 1.
Washington Dulles (IAD)
Accra (ACC): Increased frequency from three to six weekly flights using a 787-8.
Dakar (DSS): New three-weekly flights using a shorter 767-300ER (starting May 23).
These changes align with United’s long-haul strategy of leveraging its Boeing 787 and 767 fleet for transatlantic expansion.
United remains Boeing’s top customer for 2 years running.
Reference source:
https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/04/13/united-airlines-fleet-2025/
United.com
United Airlines 787-10 Dreamliner on climb-out from IAD (Washington-Dulles)
