United orders 25 Airbus 350-900 XWB aircraft

11 Mar 2010

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United Airlines, America's third largest, has now settled the remaining half of its $8-billion wide-body aircraft order by finalising an agreement with Airbus SAS to purchase 25 A350-900 XWB aircraft with an option to buy another 50 jets. Last month, it had finalised terms to purchase 25 of Boeing Co's 787 Dreamliners with an option to buy another 50 planes.

The deal wraps up months of negotiations with commercial air frame makers Toulouse, France-based Airbus and Chicago-based Boeing Co.

United intends to take delivery of the Airbus and Boeing aircraft from 2016 through 2019, when it begins to retire its fleet of Boeing 747s and 767s.

The A350-900 seats 314 passengers.

According to analysts, the large number of options, instead of firm orders, and late delivery dates provide the airline flexibility to shift orders should the 787 Dreamliner or the A350 run into delays or fail to meet technical expectations.

The 787, now in flight-testing, is running more than two years behind schedule. Airbus will only assemble its first A350 next year with first delivery scheduled for 2013.

United also has plans to order narrow-body planes this year.

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