United Airlines Announces Plans To Buy 270 Additional Jets

United Airlines has announced it’s plans to buy 270 additional jets which is the company’s largest aircraft purchase in history and the biggest order by any airline in over a decade. United is adding 200 Boeing 737 Max jets and 70 Airbus A321neo airplanes for a total price tag of about $35 billion, though experts believe the company negotiated a discount. Most of the jets will replace smaller regional planes that are currently being used to carry about 50 passengers per trip. With this most recent order and other orders, United has 500 new jets coming in the next few years with 40 due to be delivered next year and 138 due in 2023.

Along with the planes, United plans to add about 25,000 jobs over the next five years to the frontline positions it has now which includes pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, gate agents and other staff. Last year during the pandemic, the airline cut about 22,000 employees and a number of them have already been recalled. United also plans to revamp the interiors of all of it’s existing full-sized jets by adding seat-back entertainment systems, larger luggage bins and more ‘economy plus’ seating.