United Airlines has transferred a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, registration N212UA, to Victorville, California, where it is being stored rather than retired. The 25-year-old widebody aircraft was ferried from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) on December 29, 2025. This move follows the recent storage of the airline’s first Boeing 777-200 (N777UA), which completed its final flight after over 30 years of service.
United’s N212UA aircraft, delivered in July 2000, has accumulated over 80,000 flight hours and more than 17,000 flight cycles. The aircraft can seat up to 364 passengers across three classes and was primarily used for long-haul international routes. The airline is currently replacing its older fleet of widebody aircraft, including the 777-200s, with more fuel-efficient models such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350.
The airline's fleet modernization efforts
The airline operates a substantial fleet of widebodies, with plans to phase out the older aircraft by 2027 and 2030, respectively. United has also been expanding its narrowbody fleet, notably with deliveries of Airbus A321neos, now totaling 56 aircraft with an average age of one year, and has agreements to expand this fleet further. The strategic storage of certain older aircraft indicates a focus on fleet modernization while maintaining flexibility for future reuse of parts and engines.
