United ponders an earlier retirement for out-of-favour 747s

United Continental is considering parking its Boeing 747 jumbo jetliner fleet ahead of schedule to make way for newer, more-efficient twin-engine aircraft on its longest routes. The carrier’s 22 747-400s might be retired as early as 2018, according to a memo last week from Howard Attarian, senior VP of flight operations. That would be an accelerated timetable, as then-CFO John Rainey in April said United likely would keep its 4-engine aircraft at least until expensive maintenance work set for 2020 requires a decision on their future. If United drops its biggest jet the airline would accelerate deliveries of other long-haul aircraft. “As you know, this is an aging fleet that many operators are beginning to exit from service, and as this happens support for the aircraft, especially in our spokes, gets more difficult,” Attarian said in the memo. <br/>