Why Hasn't United Airlines Shown Interest In the Boeing 777X?

United Airlines ' Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle, recently revealed why the airline has not ordered the Boeing 777X. In an interview with Business Insider, the executive indicated that the carrier likely would not place an order for the type as it simply does not fit the carrier’s business model. We unpack these comments for today’s video!

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[eptometha]

Just like how United was one of the last major carriers to have 777ERs delivered, they will again delay the purchase of 777X’s.

[kadabarVIM]

If the 777-200/300ERs are well-maintained, then there's no need to replace them yet.

[DomAviation]

They don't need it, 777-300 is the largest they will need. same with the a380, they didn't order it.

[matthewhaubenchild]

I think people forget the 777 is NOT an old or inefficient aircraft. They already have a large 777-200/200er fleet that has been updated and have received 777-300er’s in the last 7 years. Not to mention they have over 100 787’s on order to replace the 200/200er. At the current moment there is no need for a 777x order. United waited a long time to get the 300er so were probably looking at the same for the X models.

[Portland]

Because their 777-300ER’s are relatively young.

[rockymountainbeerguy]

I could see United showing interest in the 777-8 down the road.

[Sacto]

It's called 100 orders and options on the 787. United already has 18 777-300ER's that are relatively new, so replacing them is not a priority.

[engrpas]

I agree with the article regarding United's route network not needing a large aircraft like the 747. This is true also for the other major US carriers that operate mostly hub-and-spoke networks using multiple hubs.

[brizzmoredoc]

first to view again. enjoying all the way from Zimbabwe

[jamesau]

But for most mono Hub carriers(Like Emirates), slot constraint don’t exist for them, if the hub is slot constrained, they can ask their governments to expand the airport or build a new one(Dubai Al-maktoum airport project were delayed due to Emirates not using as much runway capacity in existing one), most of the time the cost are cheaper than their spending on aircraft fleet (Bangkok new airport were built with price tag of 38 billion US dollar, = 10 A380). So they don’t need big jet to ease congestion, but they care which jet brings the lowest cost per available seat kilometres to keep ticket price competitive. For those who can’t expand their hub, they are outpaced by rivals(like Cathay Pacific or British Airways)

[RobloxianX]

maybe it's because the 777x is destined to be over 7 years late for airlines than what was promised 11 years ago

[MKhan-]

It makes sense for their business model. They’d have to see exponential growth in passengers at each hub, a decrease in landing slots at their busiest destinations like Heathrow, and perhaps higher costs of multiple small flights to consider high capacity jets like the 777X

[jaxonmattox]

They will want to replace their 777-300 fleet 15 years from now and then they will be interested in a 777X, the A350-1000 is smaller and would be a more direct replacement for the 777-300ERs, but the 777-8 is "only" like 19 seats larger than the 777-300ER and would be an easier transition

[delta_cosmic]

something tells me the A350 order will actually push through after all.

[hughofIreland]

One observation from the maps showing the hubs: there’s clearly a gap in the southeast. If there is to be an eighth hub (with all due apologies to Guam), FLL, MCO, or (most probably) TPA are possible candidates.

[YoutubW]

The 777-300ER is the best choice! I hope they will keep them for the next 3 decades (until 2050 at least).

[Aviationclips]

I really hope they order some bc i wanna fly it and united is the airline im gonna fly for

[danielzang]

Both the 777x and 777-300er have new improve engines. Thus United Airline has 45 a350-900 on orders and 777-9x can fit the gap with 22 777-300er in its wide body fleet.

[hughofIreland]

There’s too much uncertainty about when it would be delivered.

[davidhaley]

As a nervous 'frequent flyer, ' I always look & book the wider bigger planes. The 777-9 would be at the top of my list for long hauls.