United Airlines has announced it will retire its fleet of Boeing 747s earlier than previously planned.
Scott Kirby, president of United Airlines, confirmed the carrier will operate its final Boeing 747 flight in the fourth quarter of 2017. The airline’s earlier plan called for phasing out the 374-seat jumbo jets by the end of 2018.
“As deeply connected as we all are to this iconic aircraft, the time has come to retire our 747 fleet from scheduled service,” Kirby said. “It’s a bittersweet milestone. Today, there are more fuel-efficient, cost-effective and reliable wide-body aircraft that provide an updated in-flight experience for our customers traveling on long-haul flights.”
United emphasized that pilots and crew assigned to the 747s will receive support to ensure a smooth transition and that the airline will mark the aircraft’s retirement with a memorable celebration.
The decision to accelerate the retirement timetable comes as the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue directives calling for potentially costly inspections or fixes to older jet models, increasing the operational expense of keeping aging aircraft in service.
To replace the 747s, United plans to deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which seat 366 passengers—eight fewer than the 747s—and to expand its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which seat between 219 and 252 passengers depending on configuration. These newer models offer improved fuel efficiency, lower operating costs and an enhanced passenger experience on long-haul routes.
Delta Air Lines, the only other U.S. carrier still using the 747 for passenger service, is also set to retire its remaining 747s by the end of 2017.