Great, we have airbus pounding at the door to get our business and we have boeing over the barrel trying to keep our business. It almost seems like that is exactly what Kirby was trying to do when he put Boeing "on blast" as the youths call it.

It's 100% about getting a better deal on boeings

I see the interpretation so often, but if Boeing can't get their collective junk together sure we could extract some discounts from them and we should but more importantly they're actively and repeatedly screwing with growth plans and actively ****ing off the flying public (that's a euphemism if you include MCAS). If Airbus were able to scrounge together some quick slots (or many slots) for planes we already fly that are basically swappable with MAX8-10 we'd be stupid not to consider it. I'm now of the mindset that I really hope we do get the 350s to augment widebody plans also.

we can't even get the 34 321s we were supposed to have this year. We are getting 14. Airbus can't deliver either for different reasons.

Everyone is getting rationed.

This is about getting planes that ARE going to be delivered in 2024 coming to UAL intstead of ABC

United does not need a deal on the Max. The deal was already made when we placed a landmark order and an accompanied 787 order was affirmed and recently supplemented.

As far as we or anyone knows, the FAA’ statement “Capping expanded production of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft” could imply the Max 10 may not be certified for passenger production on any agreed/accepted/implied timeline. So the carrier has no choice but to move on to a comparable option which is the Airbus 32N product…because its’ the only option.

United CANNOT accept used aircraft.

Airbus knows we will not accept used aircraft.

To that end, with the U.S. low cost model having failed (Spirit/jetBlue-NEO operators with >80% loadfactors consistently taking on water)(Frontier-NEO operator with access to used Indigo NEO aircraft) Airbus is politely asking Spirit and Indigo to step aside for a time.

Fortunately, Dreamliner production is in full Swing and the 757/767 (756 to UAL) retirement can be delayed to facilitate gaps in Max 10 and A32N uncertainty/delivery (respectively).

If you've noticed, our IRROPS are becoming relative nonevents. Our recovery with fewer aircraft and unknown delays occurs with minimal disruption over time. We are getting better and better and I am confident we can run a spring and summer schedule without any major hiccups. But we aren’t resigned to that. If we had to, we could do it. So its’ nice to know. But we will have more aircraft this year and we are going to get creative with where we put our planes-so more important than the price of airplanes or how many we have, is how safe the operation is and how sound the decision making of our pilots is.

Dumb question but why can't UAL accept used aircraft?

that was a BS statement he/she made
United accepted more than 36 Chinese used frames
and will find a way to do so again if there is a need

Was told a while back that the cost of conformity checks on used airplanes can be prohibited. Thus, getting used ones in small number or ones that have different engines/interior configuartions can be more expensive than getting new ones.

It’s interesting to me that we aren’t exploring options to supplement or eventually replace the 700s. There are tons of places we fly that are only suitable to be flown by a 700 size plane, and ours are getting tired and worn out.