American United Airlines to Purchase 50 Airbus Aircraft for $7 Billion

United Airlines, the American airline company, has placed an order for 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft for a total of around $7 billion, as reported by Bloomberg.

The new planes are set to replace the Boeing 757-200s, which have not been produced for approximately 15 years. Currently, United Airlines operates 75 of this model.

It was initially anticipated that the Boeing 757-200 MAX would replace them; however, due to the temporary grounding of the MAX following two significant accidents in Ethiopia and Indonesia, airlines were forced to seek alternative solutions. The company has considered the Airbus A321XLR as the closest replacement for the aging models.

“The new Airbus A321XLR is an ideal equivalent replacement for the old, less efficient flying machines,” the agency quoted a representative from the company, as reported by TASS.