Late Dec. 2025, United Airlines signed a sale and leaseback agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital. The agreement covered 20 Boeing 737 MAX 9s, to be delivered in 2025 and 2026. This contract follows on from previous sales with the same company earlier this year with Airbus and Boeing.
SMBC Aviation Capital
SMBC Aviation Capital is a leading global aircraft leasing company. They provide crucial financing and fleet solutions and are backed by major Japanese financial institutions, such as Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG).
This is their third significant transaction with United Airlines, following deals for Airbus A321neos and Boeing 737 MAX 8s, supporting United’s fleet modernisation with fuel-efficient jets.
Barry Flannery, chief commercial officer at SMBC Aviation Capital, says:
We are delighted to expand our relationship with United Airlines. These aircraft will play an important role in advancing United’s fleet strategy with the latest fuel-efficient aircraft. This transaction reflects the deep trust and collaboration between our teams. We look forward to building on our relationship and supporting United’s fleet ambitions for many years to come.”
Boeing 737 MAX 9
The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that provide leasing and product support services. They also design, manufacture and sell worldwide:
- Airplanes
- Rotorcraft
- Rockets
- Satellites
- Missiles
This agreement enables United Airlines to use efficient planes (737 MAX 9s) for their fleet throughout 2025-2026. This will boost capacity and customer experience without depleting cash as they will be using SMBC as a financing partner. This is a common strategy for fleet expansion.
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft features advanced winglets and aerodynamic design for better performance as it was designed to replace the older 737-900ER as it is a more efficient member of the 737 MAX family. It burns lower fuel and emissions and was built for more capacity – fitting 220 passengers in a single-class layout – and better economics.
Past Boeing Issues
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are still actively monitoring Boeing’s progress via monthly reviews due to their production challenges.
After fixing the faulty Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) and production quality, the ‘danger’ perception now relates to past issues. Therefore, airlines are likely to focus on the aircraft’s current certification.
Do you think United Airlines will sell and leaseback any more aircrafts to SMBC Aviation Capital? Let us know your thoughts down below!
