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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
Photos(1)
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.
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
Photos(1)
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.
United to order 50 Airbus A321XLR (for 2024) (TATL w/Polaris seats)
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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 impactDecember 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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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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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 do like the 2-1-2-1-2 in the cabin now as it still allows couples.
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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.
Last edited by djsflynn; Jan 6, 2022 at 5:03 pm
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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.
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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.
Hope they are confined to EWR/IAD/BOS on shorter TATLs, and IAH on short/med Latam routes.
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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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