United Airlines Has "No Interest" In Buying Ex-Emirates Pre-Built 777X Aircraft

Published Jul 31, 2026, 2:42 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Chicago-based United Airlines has confirmed it is not interested in the purchase of the Boeing 777X, as rumours swirled that the airline could be eyeing up a rejected order of the type by Emirates. United shut down any speculation that it could be planning to take possession of up to 20 of the aircraft model. These planes, which were early builds of the long-awaited 777X, were turned away by Emirates after the airline's chairman Sir Tim Clark compared them to a can of baked beans, and noted that due to the frames' age, substantial upgrades would be required before they would be considered for delivery. United Airlines Shows No Interest In Acquiring The 777X Credit: Shutterstock As previously reported by Simple Flying, the suggestion that United would be interested in acquiring these planes was initially flagged by Leeham News. There was an idea that United could be considering up to 20 of the early-built 777X frames that had been fabricated between 2019 and 2021. For Emirates, its decision to turn down these frames was due to the age at which they would enter service, and that a 'new' plane with seven years of age since manufacture would already be at the halfway mark of its lifespan within the Dubai-based carrier, making them not considered a worthwhile investment. As reported by DJ's Aviation, this consequence of ongoing certification delays and Boeing's misjudgement will now see these airframes have an unclear future. While Emirates and now United have shown no interest in acquiring these aircraft, it does not mean they are destined for the scrap heap; another airline could come out of the woodwork and take interest in acquiring these widebodies. For the planes to enter service, a rework would be required, and certification would need to be completed, but they would be handed over much quicker than a traditional new build. United Could Have Been The First And Only US Operator Of The 777X Credit: Boeing When suggestions that United could be eyeing up the orphaned aircraft surfaced, this could have made the Star Alliance partner the only operator of the type, as no other American carrier has ordered, or plans to operate, the widebody. United already flies the Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200ER, which have been integral to widebody operations; however, the carrier's fleet replacement program is now relying heavily on other Airbus and Boeing aircraft. For United, the Boeing 787 with its next-generation capabilities has been instrumental in improving efficiency, but also flexibility in day-to-day operations. The smaller capacity, with game-changing range, has allowed the airline to consider new and exciting 'thin' routes to destinations around the globe, including the likes of Adelaide (ADL) or Sapporo (CTS). While United has said no for now, this does not rule out the world's largest airline (by fleet size) from potentially considering operating these aircraft in the future; however, United has confirmed that they certainly will not be scooping up these abandoned airframes at what could be considered a bargain. Delays To Certification Continue To Hold The 777X Back Credit: Shutterstock Boeing continues to face headwinds with the 777X, with a certification battle in its final phases. The current build of 777-9 is expected to now enter service in 2027, while the earlier builds of frames will now face additional scrutiny with changes required. This has seen the existing airframes need several reworks to ensure the safety and high quality of these aircraft. The test fleet of the 777X has now accumulated more than 4,800 test flight hours, across more than 1,700 flights. The FAA has approved Boeing to enter Phase 4B testing, which focuses on avionics, stability, and other control systems. The program is already running almost seven years behind its planned 2020 schedule, following regulatory scrutiny, structural delays and other testing protocols. Emirates, which is the largest customer of the 777X by far, has a back order for more than 270 of the aircraft, with plans for this plane to be the future replacement for the Airbus A380. Other major airlines include Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, and Cargolux(among others) who are all eying up these planes and patiently awaiting the type's imminent arrival.