United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)) currently plans to retire its remaining six B737-500s in its fleet by June 5. It had inherited 27 of the aircraft through the merger with Continental Airlines (CO, Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)) in 2012. The last flight is currently scheduled to be UA1429 from Austin Bergstrom International (AUS) to Newark Liberty International (EWR) (subject to change). Sriwijaya Air (SJ, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International (CGK)) and UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk (HMA)) have so far acquired all of the aircraft already retired from United’s fleet.

UTair-Ukraine (QU, Lugansk (VSG)) will shortly take delivery of its first ex-XL Airways Germany (X4, Frankfurt International (FRA)) B737-800 UR-UTP (MSN 28226). The aircraft is currently being prepared for the Ukrainian subsidiary of UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk (HMA)) at Shannon International (SNN). It will likely be used on charter services in cooperation with Ukrainian tour operators like its single B737-400. UTair-Ukraine also operates five ATR 72-500s, five ATR 42-300s and two CRJ-200s on scheduled services on domestic and international routes.

UTair-Ukraine (QU, Lugansk (VSG)) has announced plans to launch three additional international services from Kiev Zhulyany (IEV) from March offering new flights on routes abandoned by financially ailing competitor Aerosvit Airlines (VV, Kiev Borispol (KBP)). From March 1, UTair-Ukraine will operate daily CRJ-200 services from Kiev Zhulyany to St. Petersburg Pulkovo (LED) and Tbilisi Lochini (TBS). It will also launch a three times weekly ATR 72-500 service from Zhulyany to Rostov (ROV). The Ukrainian subsidiary of UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk (HMA)) currently operates domestic routes as well as international flights to UTair's hub at Moscow Vnukovo. Its only other scheduled international flights are weekly services from Donetsk (DOK) and Odessa Tsentrainy (ODS) to Tbilisi Lochini (TBS).

UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk (HMA)) CEO Andrey Martirosov has announced that the carrier is currently evaluating setting up a second hub in Russia in addition to Moscow Vnukovo International (VKO) allowing it to better serve Siberia. UTair is currently reviewing Irkutsk (IKT) and Krasnoyarsk (KJA) as potential options. It is also considering setting up a subsidiary in Kazakhstan in cooperation with local investors following a similar model as applied with UTair-Ukraine (QU, Lugansk (VSG)) with a mix of domestic flights and international flights to Russia. UTair does not currently serve Kazakhstan yet.

UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk (HMA)) has placed an order for 20 A321-200s earlier this week at the Farnborough Air Show. It does not currently operate any Airbus aircraft but was already previously planning to lease some A321-200s from 2013.