Originally Posted by
LAX Pilot
Nope. They aren't replacements.
From the UA 2009 annual report:
In December 2009, the Company announced its intention to place an aircraft order for 25 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft and 25 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, with future purchase rights for an additional 50 planes of each aircraft type. The 25 Boeing aircraft and 25 Airbus aircraft are to replace the Company’s international Boeing 747s and 767s.