The statement came from the chief financial officer Gerry Laderman while Speaking in a hangar at Newark’s Liberty International airport. On June 29, the airline announced a massive new airplane order for 200 Boeing 737 MAXs, along with 70 Airbus A321neos.
“The -700s have certain capabilities for hot and high airports that the -800s and -900s don’t,” said Laderman.
“The Max 7 is similar. United remains a ways from retiring its 737-700s, but when that time comes, the answer might be a Max 7, Laderman added."
The Boeing MAX 7 has about 138 seats in two classes. United operates 37 737-700s, which are 18 to 24 years old.
Laderman emphasizes that United’s firm orders with Boeing are flexible, suggesting United may modify its orders to include different MAX versions.
“With the [Max], we’ve always had the ability, with enough notice, to change the model type,” Laderman said.
United plans to begin flying MAX 10s and A321neos in early 2023. It already held separate outstanding orders for 180 737 MAX and 50 A321neos. The US carrier now expects to take delivery of 40 new single-aisle jets in 2022, 138 in 2023, and the rest in 2024 and beyond.
