For long the Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet held sway in global aviation. But not so anymore as United Airlines announced recently that it would expedite the retirement of its fleet by the end of 2017, one year earlier than previously planned.
This year, the Chicago-based airline will replace the 747 with new twin-engine Boeing 777-300ER airliners that, along with the 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350, will serve as the future core of United’s long-haul fleet.
Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer, CEO, said the aircraft were already becoming obsolete. “They have been a grand aircraft for us for a long time, but we have issues with maintenance — parts in particular. If I need a part today, I can’t get it. We stripped every airplane in the world of its parts to feed the need, and no one is making new parts for this particular aircraft because there are just not as many out there,” said Munoz.