NOT SPECIFIED — United Airlines will debut its Airbus A321XLR this summer. The specially designed extra-long-haul plane is expected to replace routes currently served by Boeing 757 aircraft.
The airline has 50 A321XLRs on order and plans to have more than half of them in service by 2028. The aircraft is expected to enter service on select international Boeing 757 routes this summer before expanding to Europe, South America, and beyond.
An extra gas tank in the belly of the A321XLR gives it a range of about 5,400 miles, or roughly 11 hours nonstop. The aircraft can serve routes that were previously uneconomical for older narrow-body aircraft or widebodies.
The A321XLR is part of United's new line of Elevated cabins, which will also be installed on its Boeing 787s, A321neo Coastliners, and CRJ450 regional jets. The aircraft features three cabin classes with a total of 150 seats, all equipped with Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with the in-flight entertainment system.
United's Polaris business class seats on the A321XLR have sliding doors that cannot be used until certified by the FAA. The FAA has not yet certified the sliding doors on the A321XLR as airworthy. Polaris passengers will receive plush linens, meals, an amenity kit, and a 19-inch television screen with Bluetooth connectivity. The Polaris beds will stretch up to 78 inches, with seats facing inward toward the aisle rather than forward toward the window.
The A321XLR's Premium Plus cabin will be arranged in a 2×2 layout with no middle seat. The cabin will include 12 reclining loungers, a 16-inch Bluetooth-enabled screen, and a foot and legrest. Premium Plus offers meals and linens that are more upscale than those in regular coach.
United removed several rows of coach seats on the A321XLR to make room for a self-serve snack bar, which will be situated behind the economy cabin. The A321XLR cabin has 32 seats between business and Premium Plus, which is 16 more than the Boeing 757 cabin.
The A321XLR coach cabin will use a 3×3 layout with 118 seats, including 36 with extra legroom. Economy seats will feature 13-inch Bluetooth-enabled screens. The aircraft will feature larger overhead bins, part of Airbus's Airspace XL cabin, to accommodate more roller bags and reduce gate-checking.
Iberia was the launch customer for the A321XLR, operating the inaugural flight from Madrid to Boston in November 2024. American Airlines, Qantas, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, and Qanot Sharq also operate the A321XLR. There have been more than 500 total orders placed for the A321XLR.