United Airlines is introducing flights to European destinations next summer with the help of a new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. This single-aisle plane enables the airline to serve destinations that may not have enough demand to fill a larger jet. American Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to operate the aircraft in 2025.
Beginning in April 2027, United will operate A321XLR flights from Newark to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Marseille, France; Ibiza, Spain; and Valencia, Spain. Additionally, flights will operate from Washington, D.C., to Toulouse, France.
I had the opportunity to tour the aircraft as part of United’s summer route announcement and here’s a sneak peek into what passengers can expect onboard next summer.
United’s A321XLR layout includes 32 premium seats, accounting for more than 20% of the total seats available. The aircraft features 10 rows of first-class seating, compared to only five rows in a similar Airbus A321neo model. The economy cabin starts in the middle of the aircraft, beyond the exit rows.
The A321XLR will offer lie-flat Polaris business class seats with sliding privacy doors, a first for United on a narrowbody plane. Each seat provides window and aisle access, although passengers face away from the window. The seats also feature upgraded screens and ample storage options, including a wireless charging pad and a dedicated space for glasses.
The Premium Plus section of the aircraft boasts slightly wider seats than other aircraft types, and offers various storage solutions, a divider for added privacy, and USB-C ports capable of charging laptops.
Economy seats on the A321XLR include a snack bar at the back and a single row with blocked middle seats for added comfort. The third row of Economy Plus features blocked middle seats, providing passengers with extra elbow room and a fixed table that can support up to 300 pounds. The middle seat’s seatback screen is also turned off. following sentence: “The students are not interested in the new curriculum.”
The new curriculum does not interest the students.