United Continental is currently exploring options for replacement of its Boeing 757 mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliners fleet, a company official has confirmed.
United Continental Fleet vice-president Ron Baur was quoted by the Wall Street Journal saying that the company was considering both the Airbus Group’s under development A321LR single-aisle jetliner and an all-new jet being drafted by Boeing.
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Mr Baur said: "When we look at the A321LR, it looks like a pretty decent airplane, but since we have the luxury of time in terms of waiting to see what Boeing’s going to do in the middle of the market airplane, we’re in no rush to make a decision on that."
Evaluations are believed to be the conceptual stage as the airliner’s 757 fleet is comparatively young, and is currently undertaking regular flights on extended routes across the Atlantic, which do not require a larger twin-aisle jetliner.
United Continental’s fleet currently includes more than 90 Boeing 757s, whose production stopped in 2004.
According to the news agency, 757s flying domestically are being decommissioned and replaced with new Boeing single-aisle jets.
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By GlobalDataThe Airbus A321LR is the upgraded version of the A321neo, and features new fuel tanks and the ability to carry four additional metric tons of passengers and cargo.
Boeing is currently seeking views from airlines on the capabilities of a conceptual jetliner sized between its single-aisle 737 and long-range twin-aisle 787 Dreamliner.
Boeing marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth confirmed to the publication that customers were indicating a preference for a jet larger than the discontinued 180-seat 757 that could fly as far as 4,800NM.
While A321LR is scheduled to be available in 2019, the launch date for Boeing’s model remains undisclosed.
