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United Airlines’ oldest and newest aircraft

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  • Have you flown on any of them?

United Airlines (UA/UAL) is one of the largest carriers in the United States, and in the world. The carrier in its current guise is the result of the combination of a number of airlines that have merged from the 1930s to the present day, the most recent being the merger with Continental Airlines in 2010. Today the airline boasts one of the largest fleets in the Americas. Let’s take a look at the makeup of the United fleet. 

The fleet

As of late 2023, the United fleet features a total of 1,424 aircraft, and includes a mix of Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier types. 

Aircraft typeNumber in fleet
Airbus A321neo2
Airbus A31981
Airbus A32092
Boeing 737 MAX 871
Boeing 737 MAX 978
Boeing 737-70040
Boeing 737-800141
Boeing 737-900148
Boeing 757-20039
Boeing 757-30021
Boeing 767-30037
Boeing 767-40016
Boeing 777-200ER74
Boeing 777-300ER22
Boeing 787-812
Boeing 787-938
Boeing 787-1021
CRJ 200113
CRJ 70075
Embraer E145LR1
Embraer E17026
Embraer E145XR61
Embraer E175LR215

United’s newest narrowbody aircraft – N14502

The newest narrowbody aircraft in the United fleet is N14502, an Airbus A321neo registered in November 2023. At the time of writing, the aircraft is mostly operating between Chicago (ORD), Phoenix (PHX) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL). This aircraft is one of around 120 A321neo family aircraft currently on United’s orderbooks. 

The brand new Airbus A321neo N14502 is seen on the ground in Tampa in December 2023.

United’s newest widebody aircraft – N12020

The newest widebody aircraft in service at United Airlines is N12020, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner registered in November 2022. This aircraft regularly operates long-haul sectors from airports such as Chicago (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX) to destinations including Tokyo (HND), Lisbon (LIS), Munich (MUC) and Frankfurt (FRA)

N12020 touches down in Munich in November 2023.

United’s newest regional jet aircraft

The newest regional jet in service at United Airlines is N757YX, an Embraer 175LR built in 2023. This is one of 215 in service at the airline, and is operated by Republic Airways painted as United Express. 

United’s newest regional jet approaching Quebec Airport in April 2023.

United Airlines’ oldest aircraft

Now let’s take a look at the more senior members of the United fleet. 

United’s oldest narrowbody aircraft – N408UA

The oldest active aircraft in the United Airlines fleet is an Airbus A320 aircraft registered N408UA, built in 1993. This aircraft frequently operates routes between airports including Denver (DEN), Austin (AUS) and Savannah (SAV).

The United fleet also contains a set of older Boeing 757-200 aircraft, the oldest of which is N12109.

United’s oldest widebody jet

Flying the long haul flag the longest at United is N641UA, a 32 year-old Boeing 767-322(ER) registered in March 1991. Currently based in New York (EWR), this maturing jet makes frequent transatlantic trips to destinations such as Palma de Mallorca (PMA), Berlin (BER) and Naples (NAP). It is also used on high volume domestic routes to Houston (IAH) and Chicago (ORD).

United’s oldest widebody, N641UA, is seen wearing its original livery at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1993.
Still looking sharp: N641UA approaching Barcelona’s El Prat Airport in 2021.

United Airlines’ oldest regional jet

United’s oldest regional jet is a Bombardier CRJ200 built in August 1998. Registered as N431AW, the quarter-century old aircraft has worn many liveries in its time, including that of AirTran, US Airways Express and American Eagle. Based in Chicago (ORD) as of late 2023, this little jet makes frequent shorter trips to destinations including Columbia (CAE), Roswell (ROW) and Roanoke (ROA).

The future of the United fleet

Alongside many other prolific carriers, United Airlines is undertaking a program of fleet renewal. As of late 2023, the carrier has active orders for 50 Boeing 787-9 widebody aircraft, and 120 Airbus A321neo family narrowbody aircraft.

Image: Airbus/United

 

Have you flown on any of United’s newest or oldest aircraft? Leave us a comment below. 

Cover photo: Donato Bolelli, JetPhotos.

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