Ual Confirms Order For Boeing Jetliners

UAL Corp. said Wednesday it will buy $2.5 billion worth of wide-body planes from the Boeing Co. for its aging United Airlines fleet.

The Elk Grove Village-based company also is negotiating with Boeing, Airbus and engine manufacturers for narrow-body Boeing 737s or Airbus A319s, a deal worth $600 million.

UAL Corp. said it had reached an agreement with Boeing for 747s, 757s and 777s. UAL refused to provide additional details; spokesman Richard Martin said a formal announcement might come in a week.

United plans to buy 97 aircraft in the next five years to replace 93 older planes. The airline is particularly interested in wide-body planes like the state-of-the-art 777 to expand its growing business on the Pacific Rim.

United executives appear happy with the new plane despite previously reported problems with it. In March, a memo from a United official to Boeing called the 777 a “major disappointment,” with mechanical problems that disrupted departures twice as often as expected. The carrier also has had problems with the plane’s entertainment system.