United Airlines Hits Pause on Delivery of Passenger-Friendly Airbus Jets
Skift Take
Will United Airlines ever take the 35 Airbus A350s it has on order? At one point, it had an acute need for the new long-haul aircraft. But times change, and United already has a worthy successor for its Boeing 747 fleet — the Boeing 777-300ER.
Seven years ago when United Airlines ordered the Airbus A350 many expected it would become one of two passenger-friendly flagships in its long-haul fleet. Like the Boeing 787, the aircraft's cabin is quieter and has more humidity than regular jets, including the Boeing 777, ensuring travelers arrive arrive in Hong Kong and Tokyo with less jet-lag than usual.
But it's looking increasingly unlikely the aircraft will show up at United soon — if ever. United, which has been coy about its plans for the A350, said Tuesday it has deferred its first four jets, which were to arrive next year. It did not say when these four jets might be delivered, nor when the rest of the 35-aircraft order might arrive.
This deferral is not a major surprise. When United first committed to 25 A350s in 2010, and then altered the order in 2013, by adding 10 aircraf
