United Airlines is considering the possibility of ordering a large number of Airbus A321neo planes due to continued delays in Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX program. 

United’s CEO Scott Kirby recently visited Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, to discuss the acquisition of additional A321neos to fill the gaps left by the delayed deliveries of Boeing’s MAX 10, the largest variant of the MAX family. 

• United Airlines explores acquiring more A321neo jets from Airbus amid Boeing 737 MAX 10 delays.

• Talks initiated by United CEO Scott Kirby signify a potential shift in aircraft procurement strategy.

• Airbus seeks to capitalize on Boeing’s production challenges, potentially solidifying its market position.

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Boeing’s MAX Crisis Opens Door for Airbus at United

This ​move ​comes ​after ​​an ​emergency ​landing ​of ​an ​Alaska Airlines ​MAX ​9 ​​last ​week​, ​which ​raised ​doubts ​about ​the ​​MAX ​10’s ​certification ​timeline​. 

Boeing is struggling to get the MAX 10 certified by year-end as required by aviation regulators. 

Even though United has not canceled any of its 277 MAX 10 orders, Kirby admitted that Boeing would likely miss the contractual delivery schedules for “at least many of those airplanes.” 

However, an Airbus order would depend on the availability of scarce A321neo planes. 

Airbus may need to rearrange delivery slots from other customers to accommodate United’s new order. 

Negotiations could also involve revising the timeline for United’s 45-aircraft widebody order. 

This ​potential ​major ​deal ​​highlights the ​​deepening challenges ​for ​​Boeing, which has ​been ​facing ​​eroding customer ​trust ​and ​further ​delays ​in ​aircraft ​delivery ​after ​two ​fatal ​MAX ​crashes ​and ​a ​20-month ​worldwide ​grounding. 

United has relied exclusively on Boeing for its narrowbody fleet for decades. 

But in 1992, Airbus broke that monopoly by winning a landmark order from United for A320 jets. 

As Boeing’s troubles continue to mount nearly 30 years later, Airbus appears again positioned to step in and expand its narrowbody footprint.

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