United is planning a major fleet expansion.

The carrier announced that it had made an order to purchase 25 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The new planes come in addition to a previously-announced order of 40 737-700s.

The company said it would be taking delivery of the planes at the end of 2017.

Above: United is one of a handful of carriers offering direct flights to St Kitts

United, which has been increasing its flights to the Caribbean region, said the new planes would provide a “superior customer experience by featuring cabin enhancements including larger overhead bins that can accommodate additional carry-on bags.”

The new planes come with Boeing’s new Sky Interior, with sculpted sidewall panels and LED cabin lighting.

“The new 737-700 aircraft are ideal for our fleet as we continue to reduce our reliance on 50-seat aircraft,” said Gerry Laderman, United’s senior vice president of finance and acting chief financial officer. “Retiring the 747 fleet and replacing those aircraft with more customer-pleasing, current generation aircraft creates a more reliable and efficient fleet that provides a better overall experience for our customers traveling on long-haul flights.”