Originally Posted by
SEDPA
An even better question is why, if UAL had intended to continue to compete, why didn't they order at least replacement aircraft?
Ummmm..... UAL did.
Besides the obvious huge order (and even more options) for 787s and 350s, pre-merger UAL was very publicly shopping for new narrowbodies and sent RFPs to Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier (C-Series) during 2009-2010. News articles at the time made mention of this, and well as public statements by Tilton and the CFO during the quarterly investor calls (the exact quotes by the CFO have been posted previously on APC.)
For some not-so-obsure reason UAL changed its tune in the spring of 2010.