United Converts Dreamliner Order to Larger 787-10

The airline is looking to maximize capacity amid constraints from air traffic control and a scarcity of available airport gates.

Zach Vasile

Friday, January 16, 2026 at 04:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 787 Dreamliner descends into Amsterdam. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Key Takeaways:

United converted an order for 56 Boeing 787-9s to larger 787-10s, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028.
This modification is linked to increasingly constrained ground operations and difficulties in sourcing parts for United's older 777 fleet.
United, already a major Dreamliner operator, will receive over 100 more 787s in the coming years but has not yet selected an engine for these new 787-10s.

See a mistake? Contact us.

United has converted an order for dozens of Boeing 787-9s to larger 787-10s.

The Air Current reported Friday that United exercised options to convert 56 787-9s to -10s. Deliveries of those aircraft are expected to begin in 2028.

The aviation news site linked the order modification to increasingly constrained ground operations, and the carrier’s difficulty getting parts for its older 777s.

United is one of the largest operators of the Dreamliner in the world, and operates all three variants, the 787-8, -9, and -10. The airline expects to receive over 100 more of the type in the coming years.

United has not yet selected an engine for the 787-10s, The Air Current reported. Its options are the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and the General Electric GEnx.

News of the conversion came just days after Delta placed its first ever direct order for the 787. The carrier committed to buying 30 787-10s, and has options to purchase up to 30 more.