United Airlines is set to overhaul the passenger experience on its upcoming fleet by addressing the long-standing issue of the middle seat. The airline announced that its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature a specialized seating row where a permanently fixed table will span across the middle seat. This design adjustment is intended to provide the two passengers in that row with additional space to stretch out, particularly during longer international flights.
The rollout of these 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft is scheduled to begin with domestic flights this fall, followed by an expansion into international routes by early 2027. United expects that more than half of this new fleet will be in active service by 2028. These aircraft are slated to replace the airline's Boeing 757s on current international routes, while also facilitating service to new destinations across Europe and South America.
In addition to the new table design, the Economy Plus seating within the XLR aircraft will continue to offer passengers an extra three inches of legroom compared to standard Economy class.
