United Airlines to retire 21 aircraft early 2025

United Airlines plans to retire 21 aircraft early in 2025. This decision comes as the airline expects lower profits for the first quarter of the year. CEO Scott Kirby made the announcement at a Barclays event earlier this month. The company aims to phase out its most costly planes but has not revealed which models will be retired. Kirby stated that retiring these aircraft would be financially beneficial for the airline this year. Despite the expected lower profitability in early 2025, United Airlines had a strong performance in 2024. The airline reported a net income of $3.1 billion and operating revenues of $57 billion, a 6.2% increase from the previous year. United carried a record 173.6 million customers in 2024, operating more flights than ever before. Currently, United operates a fleet of 1,010 aircraft, with most being Boeing models. Their fleet includes various types such as the Boeing 737 and 777, and they also have several Airbus planes. United has 667 aircraft on order, including several models from both Boeing and Airbus. Looking ahead, United Airlines is preparing for the summer 2025 season, with plans to increase flight frequencies on certain routes. They have also filed new routes from their hubs in Chicago and Denver, connecting to various destinations across the U.S.