Economics
Ditching Dreamliners: Here's Why United Just Bought a Bunch of Older Airplanes
The Boeing 777-300ER guzzles more gas than a Dreamliner, but United likes the price
A newly delivered Boeing 777-300ER passenger jet at Narita Airport in Tokyo.
Photographer: Kimimasa Mayama/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
United Airlines loves the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It became the first U.S. carrier to fly the long-haul jet and takes every opportunity to proclaim the Dreamliner's passenger-friendly features and attractive operating costs. Yet price trumps all in airline economics, which is why United has scrapped an order for 10 new 787s to buy an equal number of older, larger, less-fuel efficient airplanes.
The switch to 777-300ERs comes as happy news for Boeing. The manufacturer has been desperately seeking more orders as it shifts to a complete update of the plane with the 777X, which is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2020.