Dec 3, 2019, 5:26 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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)
Jun 21, 2023 | 9:59 am
#197
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Jun 21, 2023 | 10:03 am
#198
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Also, it looks like Row 1 can be turned into a two person suite though maybe not for takeoff and landing.
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Jun 21, 2023 | 10:05 am
#199
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We'll see if UA specifies this option. IIRC the seat is for inflight use only, though it has a seatbelt for use during turbulence. Primarily for dining and "meetings" but is very tight for two. It's becoming a more popular "business plus" upsell so could conceivably be part of the forthcoming Polaris 2.0 seat.
Jun 21, 2023 | 10:06 am
#200
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Also, it looks like Row 1 can be turned into a two person suite though maybe not for takeoff and landing.
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Jun 21, 2023 | 11:02 am
#202
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Also, it looks like Row 1 can be turned into a two person suite though maybe not for takeoff and landing.
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Jun 21, 2023 | 11:19 am
#203
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UA picked probably the best 1-1 seat for Polaris. It will also be the 737-10 MAX Polaris seat for TCON flying. I really wonder why UA isn't just using more of the A321neo for TCON flying, given the fuselage width, and just having one standard configuration for the 737-10 MAX. The aisle upfront is going to see on the awfully narrow side. If I am not mistaken, the standard 737-10 MAX configuration will be 20F/64Y+/104Y.
Jun 21, 2023 | 11:34 am
#205
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Would also be good to put out a PP 2.0 seat. One with slightly more recline (maybe 8 inches), a bit wider (20 inches - like domestic F) and slightly more pitch (40-42 inches)
It would be a way for UA to actually get ahead of the competition for once. Just bring back the original Polaris service for those seats
It would be a way for UA to actually get ahead of the competition for once. Just bring back the original Polaris service for those seats
Last edited by Unitedloyalflyer; Jun 21, 2023 at 11:40 am
Jun 21, 2023 | 12:58 pm
#206
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Also, it looks like Row 1 can be turned into a two person suite though maybe not for takeoff and landing.
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Jun 21, 2023 | 3:16 pm
#207
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I doubt we'll see United go back to a true F product, but something like this monetizes otherwise "dead" space without having to offer a differentiated class of service that would compete (at least on paper and GDS) with "real" F cabins. It stands to reason that J+ would be a more profitable proposition than going back to F service... as much as I would love to see it.
Jun 21, 2023 | 5:04 pm
#208
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It's unclear to me if these are the seats to be used - JonNYC seemed to state in the Twitter thread where he was commenting about this that passenger's head would be by the window, which would suggest that the seats would angle towards the aisle and not away from it.
Jun 22, 2023 | 6:48 am
#209
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It's unclear to me if these are the seats to be used - JonNYC seemed to state in the Twitter thread where he was commenting about this that passenger's head would be by the window, which would suggest that the seats would angle towards the aisle and not away from it.
Sometimes it's good intel, other times it isn't.
Jun 22, 2023 | 7:22 am
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The comment on placement of the head near the window was made in August 2022, things could have changed.