Aircraft Order
 

July 12, 2012

EMPLOYEE BULLETIN: EXPANDING THE FLEET FOR THE FUTURE

Today we issued the following news release announcing our order for 150 brand new Boeing aircraft. These new aircraft will allow us to replace older, less fuel-efficient aircraft, beginning with subsidiary UA's 757-200s, which we fly domestically. The new planes will reduce our fuel and operating costs, enhance our operational reliability, improve the customer experience and maximize network opportunities.

Next year we will begin to take delivery of the 50 additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft; Boeing will deliver the 737 MAX 9 to us beginning in 2018.
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News Release:

UNITED ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR 150 BOEING AIRCRAFT

UNITED TO FURTHER MODERNIZE ITS FLEET AS
IT RETIRES OLDER, LESS-EFFICIENT JETS

NORTH AMERICAN LAUNCH CUSTOMER FOR 737 MAX 9

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) and its wholly owned subsidiary, United Air Lines, Inc., today announced an order to purchase 150 narrowbody Boeing 737 aircraft. Under the new agreement, United will purchase 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft for delivery between 2013 and 2022. These new aircraft will allow United to replace older, less-efficient aircraft to reduce fuel and operating costs, enhance the customer experience and maximize network opportunities. In addition, United is the North American launch customer for the 737 MAX 9, continuing its long tradition of launching new programs such as the 767, 777 and 787.

“This order is a major step in building the world’s leading airline, and we look forward to offering our customers the modern features and reliability of new Boeing airplanes, while also making our fleet more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Jeff Smisek, United’s President and CEO. “New aircraft deliveries support our flexible fleet plan, permitting us to tailor future capacity up or down, based on changes in demand or other market conditions.”

“These new aircraft, combined with our new widebody aircraft already on order and our existing fuel-efficient aircraft, will solidify United’s future fleet as one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible fleets among our global competitors,” said Smisek.

United will begin taking delivery of 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in 2018. Boeing’s newest family of airplanes will deliver a significant improvement in fuel efficiency in the single-aisle aircraft market. The 737 MAX 9 will be powered by the new CFM International LEAP-1B engine. The 737 MAX 9 is expected to achieve fuel burn and CO2 emission reductions of up to 13 percent compared to current 737 aircraft. United’s 737 MAX fleet will feature the customer-pleasing Boeing Sky Interior, which creates a greater sense of space in the cabin and features an energy-efficient LED lighting system with different lighting and color schemes, a quieter cabin with improved ventilation, and larger overhead bins that accommodate additional carry-on bags.

United also plans to purchase 50 additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft with deliveries beginning in late 2013. These next-generation models will be used primarily to replace older, less-efficient Boeing 757-200 aircraft that are flown domestically and are expected to burn up to 15 percent less fuel per seat than the aircraft they replace. CFM56-7B engines will power the aircraft. United was the North American launch customer for the 737-900ER when its predecessor placed its first order in 2006 and currently operates a fleet of 43 737-900ER aircraft.

The new 737-900ER will also feature the Boeing Sky Interior, which has been included on United’s 737-900ER aircraft since United became the first U.S. airline to operate 737-900ER aircraft with the new interior in 2011.

This order solidifies United’s well-balanced order book with 272 new aircraft deliveries anticipated through 2022, including 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus A350XWBs. United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner, a revolutionary airplane that will provide customers a superior travel experience while reducing fuel and operating costs by up to 20 percent, with the first delivery scheduled in late September.

No surprise there. Just what I expected. I wish people would stop ordering these 737's so Boeing can shut the line down and make a new narrow body with a cockpit from this century. ;)

Oh Yeyy, more shiny new jets, who needs a contract! lets just all go get fitted for the shiny new uniforms so that we can look the part.;)

Aircraft Order
 

757s become 737s, and 737 routes get outsourced. Nothing new here. I just hope the CAL guys see this for what it is. It's not 150 new airplanes.

I sure hope it takes them a long, long, LONG time to park the busses.

Agree, what is basically a 1960's tube lengthened with the same noisy and cramped cockpit. Got about 4000 hours in each and I'd take Fifi anyday....

Lee

This is where it gets "interesting". Hear (read) me out-

These aircraft are replacements for sUAL 757's (first)..
So, where do they get placed?!

Since they were ordered post Merger, what happens here?
1) Does sUAL have the certification to 'still' operate the 73? Does the UAL CBA still apply to these newer, bigger 73's?
2) If so, then it's pretty straight forward to put them into sUAL bases.. without a new TPA (or so I would think?!).
B) If sUAL pilots were to NOT be allowed to operate them, and they were destined for the sCAL side.. that would mean the company has blatantly stated that they will shrink sUAL and grow sCAL.. since we do not have a JCBA or ISL.
Violation of Status Que?

III) What does the TPA (or extension) say about 'new' aircraft orders?.. brings up another question as I believe that sCAL still has some outstanding 73 deliveries for the next few years PLUS options..
Is this order 'firming up' options? Cause if it is, then it goes back to the point of sCAL new aircraft for replacement of sUAL aircraft!

This is even more reason why we should never have signed a TPA Extension back in Jan/Feb or why sCAL should never have worked a side deal for Profit Sharing 2011~ JCBA or NOTHING! [Just my Opinion]

Side note-
The company has stated that the 73's will be a sUAL replacement. Any TA/JCBA better have those two aircraft listed as same pay category.
Delta Pilots (in their great wisdom of selling out Scope for a few pieces of Silver) have $3-5 an hour difference between the two aircraft!

I agree with the other posters that the 73-9's and the Max9 are "not" a 75.. yet again, they will be doing the mission of the 75 and therefor we need to make sure that they pay accordingly.

The fact that Jeffrey can smile and gloat about an aircraft order while we still operate as two separate pilots groups, and under expired concessionary contracts- is disgusting. Almost makes me want to puke and call in sick!
(yeah, I said it!)

Always
Motch

Great. Park all the higher paying 757's and fly all domestic with lowest paying (banded) and most uncomfortable cockpit a/c in the world. Just great.....

Mike- on the sCAL side, the bigger 73's are pay banded the same as the smaller (757-2's). So there is no problem there.

We just need to watch this when the TA comes out~

Motch