United close to gaining Airbus jets after Boeing Max 10 delays

United Airlines is close to securing three dozen or more Airbus A321neo jets from aircraft lessors, as it looks to replace Boeing 737 Max 10 orders that are at least five years behind schedule, according to people familiar with the matter. The carrier is in final negotiations for the planes that are due to be delivered between 2025 and 2027, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are confidential. Bloomberg News first reported in January that Airbus was also looking for A321 production slots to woo United. Delays in certifying Boeing’s 737 Max 10 aircraft have jeopardized growth plans at United, which was slated to be the first major customer for the plane. Converting some of those orders to Airbus would give the European planemaker a rare opportunity to undercut its chief rival. United declined to comment Thursday on whether it was close to deals for the Airbus aircraft. Certification of the Max 10 keeps sliding as regulators more carefully scrutinize new Boeing aircraft entering the market and the federal government is rigorously assessing the company’s quality control. United CEO Scott Kirby said earlier this week that the carrier was in the market for A321s, but cautioned that he wouldn’t overpay for aircraft just to hit a growth target and would only do a deal “where the economics work.” The airline is likely to end up with a mix of Max 9s and A321s to replace the Max 10s, he said.<br/>