United Airlines still maintains it plans to reach a decision by year-end about placing an order with Airbus or Boeing for widebody aircraft, and replacement of its Boeing 757s.
The carrier formally sent a request for proposal in June to the rival airframers after determining the competitive environment was ripe for either Airbus or Boeing to secure an order from one of the largest wide-body operators in the world.
Flightglobal's ACAS database shows United currently operates 25 747-400s, 34 767-300ERs, 19 777-200s and 33 777-200ERs. The carrier also operates 94 757-200s.
Today during a call with analysts and investors to discuss the carrier's $57 million loss for the third quarter, United CFO Kathryn Mikells said the carrier is "very close to wrapping this up and making a decision", about its intent to place an order.
Mikells says both manufacturers offer "very good products in terms of their potential to fit into our long term fleet strategy".
At this point Mikells stresses it is "really about the deal and the economics of the aircraft, and that's what we're pressing on right now".
United remains confident both manufacturers will remain "very responsive" in the competition, says Mikells, "and we look forward to bringing it to a close".
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
