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United to order 50 Airbus A321XLR (for 2024) (TATL w/Polaris seats)

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Old Dec 3, 2019, 5:26 pm
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United Airlines Sets a Course for the Future With Order of 50 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft
New aircraft will improve operational efficiency, elevate the inflight travel experience and reduce environmental impact
Airline expects to operate new aircraft on transatlantic routes out of its East Coast hubs in 2024
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CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced an order to purchase 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, enabling the carrier to begin replacing and retiring its existing fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft and further meet the airline's operational needs by pairing the optimal aircraft with select transatlantic routes. The state-of-the-art aircraft, which United expects to introduce into international service in 2024, will also allow United to explore serving additional destinations in Europe from its East Coast hubs in Newark/New York and Washington.



"The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is an ideal one-for-one replacement for the older, less-efficient aircraft currently operating between some of the most vital cities in our intercontinental network," said Andrew Nocella, United's executive vice president and chief commercial officer. "In addition to strengthening our ability to fly more efficiently, the A321XLR's range capabilities open potential new destinations to further develop our route network and provide customers with more options to travel the globe."

The next-generation A321XLR offers customers an elevated inflight experience and features modern amenities including LED lighting, larger overhead bin space and Wi-Fi connectivity. Additionally, the new aircraft lowers overall fuel burn per seat by about 30% when compared to previous generation aircraft, enabling United to further minimize its environmental impact as the carrier moves towards its ambitious goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50% relative to 2005 levels by 2050.

United plans to begin taking delivery of the Airbus A321XLR in 2024. Additionally, the airline will defer the delivery of its order of Airbus A350s until 2027 to better align with the carrier's operational needs.



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United to order 50 Airbus A321XLR (for 2024) (TATL w/Polaris seats)

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Old Feb 1, 2021 | 12:38 pm
  #151  
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Did United actually order those? I haven't heard much about it for a long time.
https://hub.united.com/2019-12-03-un...641509684.html

United Airlines Sets a Course for the Future With Order of 50 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft

New aircraft will improve operational efficiency, elevate the inflight travel experience and reduce environmental impact
December 03, 2019CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced an order to purchase 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, enabling the carrier to begin replacing and retiring its existing fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft and further meet the airline's operational needs by pairing the optimal aircraft with select transatlantic routes. The state-of-the-art aircraft, which United expects to introduce into international service in 2024, will also allow United to explore serving additional destinations in Europe from its East Coast hubs in Newark/New York and Washington.
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Old Feb 1, 2021 | 12:40 pm
  #152  
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Did United actually order those? I haven't heard much about it for a long time.
Yes, a little over a year ago, for 50 frames and initially planned for 2024 deliveries. We'll see how that schedule holds up, but the XLR will not be in service at all until 2023 or later.
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Old Feb 1, 2021 | 1:01 pm
  #153  
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Looks like these can do east-coast/IAH/ORD to most European destinations - I didn't measure, but I wonder if they can make it to Tokyo from SFO and HNL from ORD/EWR/IAD. A major down-gauge and capacity reduction might end up being part of the "answer".
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Old Feb 2, 2021 | 6:45 am
  #154  
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Wonder if UA's A321XLR will have a product similar to B6's new Mint Suite - https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us/mint
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Old Feb 2, 2021 | 2:09 pm
  #155  
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Originally Posted by ordogg
Wonder if UA's A321XLR will have a product similar to B6's new Mint Suite - https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us/mint
I'd imagine it will be pretty similar, although, it will be interesting to see what the layout is. If you mirror on the 757 you'd cut your capacity in half from the forward cabin unless it also went beyond L2, but the layout on the 321 is different from the 757.

I do like the 2-1-2-1-2 in the cabin now as it still allows couples.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 2:49 pm
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UA A321XLR Polaris

A quick update on United's plans for the Airbus A321XLR.
  • United confirms that, as you'd expect (and indeed hope!), its A321XLRs will have a new single-aisle Polaris seat; also Premium Plus (same seat as currently in use).
  • United says "we will use the A321XLR exclusively for the North Atlantic as well as Latin America", and as already known they'll replace the 757s, but will also take over some 767 routes
  • The first A321XLR jets arrive at the tail end of 2024, but deliveries will kick up across 2025.
That's the guts of it, but should you wish to click for more, that clickery is https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
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Last edited by djsflynn; Jan 6, 2022 at 5:03 pm
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 3:02 pm
  #157  
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Wow! Narrow body with Polaris seats
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 3:38 pm
  #158  
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Originally Posted by djsflynn
A quick update on United's plans for the Airbus A321XLR.
  • As you'd expect, United confirms the A321XLRs will have a new single-aisle Polaris seat; also Premium Plus (same seat as currently in use).
  • United says "we will use the A321XLR exclusively for the North Atlantic as well as Latin America", and as already knowns they'll replace the 757s, but will also take over some 767 routes
  • The first A321XLR jets arrive in at the tail end of 2024, but deliveries will kick up across 2025.
That's the guts of it, but should you wish to click for more, that clickery is https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...business-class
Per the clickery, when fitting the polaris seat to A321, I surely hope they aren't doing away with the tray tables!

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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 4:03 pm
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Originally Posted by fumje
Per the clickery, when fitting the polaris seat to A321, I surely hope they aren't doing away with the tray tables!



Maybe getting rid of the tray table was the price that had to be paid to add the second aisle
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 4:20 pm
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Will be interested to see how seat width/length will compare to 767/777 (good) and 787 (a bit narrow).

Hope they are confined to EWR/IAD/BOS on shorter TATLs, and IAH on short/med Latam routes.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 4:37 pm
  #161  
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Originally Posted by tcdtcd
Will be interested to see how seat width/length will compare to 767/777 (good) and 787 (a bit narrow).

Hope they are confined to EWR/IAD/BOS on shorter TATLs, and IAH on short/med Latam routes.
Will probably show up on ORD to Scotland and Ireland at some point.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 4:55 pm
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Did United actually order those? I haven't heard much about it for a long time.
Indeed, as EWR764 says.

It's the A350 order that is surrounded in mystery.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 5:05 pm
  #163  
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Originally Posted by Catbert10
Maybe getting rid of the tray table was the price that had to be paid to add the second aisle
What second aisle? It is going to be single aisle throughout the entire plane like a 757.

I will assume it is just the same Polaris suites and layout with one aisle, meaning no middle suites. Don't know if the suites are going to be able to be wider like 777 or narrower like a 787. For Premium Plus, it'll just be 2-2 since the current PP seats are pretty similar to the newest domestic first seats. Eco and Eco Plus will be standard 3-3. I suspect the seats will be 18" width as the Airbus cabins are wide enough to do 3-3 with that generous width (by today's tight standards). We shall see what the pitch is in E+, probably the new 34" standard. 31" standard in E-.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 5:18 pm
  #164  
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Originally Posted by CApreppie
What second aisle? It is going to be single aisle throughout the entire plane like a 757.
The "A321" in that picture has two aisles...
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 7:31 pm
  #165  
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Originally Posted by JimInOhio
Will probably show up on ORD to Scotland and Ireland at some point.
Yup probably. Just hope for nothing longer than that from ORD! Not a fan of single aisle TATL. Please no LHR or onward! Leave them on east coast!
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