A blockbuster deal for Boeing South Carolina is getting supersized.
United Airlines announced Oct. 3 that it’s cashing in an option to buy an additional 50 787-9s from the planemaker, increasing its number of “firm” orders to 150 Dreamliners under a replenishment of its global fleet.
The company also said it has secured a new option to buy 50 more of the long-haul wide-bodies.
“The new Dreamliner order provides United additional flexibility as the airline modernizes its global fleet over the next decade,” the Chicago-based carrier said in written statement.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“We’re building a bright future at United, and this order takes our already successful ‘United Next’ plan into the next decade and beyond,” CEO Scott Kirby said in the statement. “Our planning and focus on the long term have helped us surge past other airlines that stood still. I’m convinced our strategy is the right one as we continue to add new, larger aircraft to take full advantage of our growing flying opportunities both internationally and domestically.”
The latest commitment sets up United to be the world’s largest Dreamliner operator. Including the new option, it could eventually amass up to 250 of the South Carolina-built planes.
United announced its initial order of 200 787s, including 100 options, in late 2022. It was considered the largest-ever wide-body deal by a U.S carrier.
The order was capped by a high-energy deal-signing event at Boeing’s final assembly plant off of International Boulevard.
The first of the new planes are scheduled to be delivered over eight years starting in 2024. They’ll join United’s existing fleet of more than 70 Dreamliners.
The newly ordered 787-9s, one of three models that Boeing builds, can fly up to 7,565 nautical miles and seat up to 296 passengers.
“United’s unprecedented commitment to the 787 … family is a testament to the market-leading operating economics and reliability of Boeing’s wide-body jets,” said Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft business.
The Dreamliner program has secured more than 1,800 orders, including nearly 350 in the past year. Last month, Air Canada announced an agreement to buy at least 18 and as many as 30 787-10 jets from Boeing.