United Airlines is in talks to buy the largest versions of Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner and Airbus SAS’s A350, making it the first U.S. carrier to fly the new long-haul jets, people familiar with the matter said.
The carrier will modify a 2009 order to take 25 wide-body A350-1000s instead of the smaller -900 variant as once planned, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. United also will convert options for a couple dozen A350s and Dreamliners into firm orders, with the Boeing jets being the new 787-10X model, the people said.