US Airlines' Fleet Ages Revealed: Which Carrier Has the Youngest Jets?

United Airlines currently operates the oldest fleet among the big three legacy carriers in the US. According to data from Planespotters.net, United's average aircraft age is 15.1 years, followed closely by Delta Air Lines with an average age of 15 years. American Airlines has the youngest fleet at an average age of 14.7 years.

The main reason behind United's older fleet is its lack of new orders for widebody aircraft. Unlike Delta and American, which have a significant number of Airbus A350s and Boeing 777Xs in their fleets, United relies heavily on its existing aircraft. The oldest jet in United's fleet is the Boeing 777, with an average age of over 23 years.

However, United has plans to introduce new aircraft in the future, including the Airbus A321neo. With 50 Coastliners on order and 40 to be delivered by April 2028, this will undoubtedly bring down the average age of its fleet. American Airlines is also expected to benefit from this shift, as it has a larger order sheet than Delta and United combined.

In contrast, Delta's fleet is driven by an exceptionally young and large fleet of Airbus A220 and A321 family aircraft. Its widebody fleet includes the new and young Airbus A350-900, with 20 more jets on order, including the first Airbus A350-1000 set to arrive in June 2027.