Demand for air travel continues to grow. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recently predicted that global passenger demand will double by 2050. In response to this increasing demand, airlines are expanding their capacity and launching new routes, while manufacturers are addressing significant order backlogs to provide the necessary aircraft for this growth. Indeed, manufacturers are finally starting to catch up on aircraft deliveries that were postponed during the pandemic.
As reported by aviation analytics firm Cirium, total delivery volumes in the first half of 2026 (H1 2026) reached their highest point since 2018, with both Airbus and Boeing experiencing consistent increases in their delivery rates. The two companies delivered nearly 650 commercial passenger and freighter aircraft during H1 2026, which is just 5% shy of the industry’s H1 record of 681 deliveries set in 2018.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has emerged as the most-delivered widebody of 2026. By the end of June 2026, the two manufacturers had completed approximately 43% of the anticipated total commercial aircraft deliveries for the year. Cirium forecasts that Airbus and Boeing will deliver around 1,510 aircraft in total this year. Notably, the recovery in deliveries was primarily driven by the single-aisle sector, with both the A320 family and 737 MAX showing strong growth. In contrast, widebody deliveries remained relatively stable compared to the single-aisle segment.
Within the relatively steady twin-aisle market, the 787-9 Dreamliner was the leading widebody in terms of unit deliveries, with the manufacturer transferring 35 aircraft. For the entire year, 52 787-9s are expected to be delivered to 13 airlines, as reported by Modern Business Travel. The aircraft has indeed become a key component of the long-haul fleets for many major airlines since it began commercial operations in 2014.
The 787-9 offers exceptional fuel efficiency and the necessary range for long-distance flights. This has made it increasingly attractive to airlines looking to replace their older widebody aircraft with more efficient options. Interestingly, the 787-9 is gradually taking the place of older-generation widebodies like the 767, 777-200, and A340 at several airlines, specifically four carriers.
United Airlines is one of the carriers actively retiring its older widebody models, such as the 767 and 777-200, and substituting them with 787-9s as the operational economics of the older aircraft have become harder to justify. The 787 is not merely another aircraft type in United’s fleet; the airline was an early adopter of the Dreamliner, receiving its first unit in 2012, and has since integrated the type into the core of its long-haul fleet. United currently operates all three variants of the Dreamliner: the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10.
According to planespotters.net, United has over 80 787s in its fleet, which includes 12 787-8s, 56 787-9s, and 21 787-10s. The airline is also expected to receive up to 20 more Dreamliners during 2026. Undoubtedly, the 787-9 is the most significant variant in the fleet. Its combination of range and capacity enables the airline to utilize it for a variety of long-haul operations, from services to Europe and the Middle East to routes across the Asia-Pacific region, Australia, and South America. Simultaneously, United is leveraging the 787-9, particularly its newly delivered aircraft, to meet the rising demand for premium long-haul travel.
Each “Elevated” 787-9 features Polaris Studio, the airline’s latest ultra-premium suite. Each aircraft includes eight Polaris Studio suites at the front of the Polaris cabin. Each suite is approximately 25% larger than a standard Polaris seat and comes equipped with a sliding privacy door, a 27-inch 4K OLED touchscreen, Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, and a companion ottoman that allows passengers to dine with a guest.
The Polaris Studio suites were introduced in April on the San Francisco…
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