United Airlines has officially commenced service with its first Airbus A321neo, marking a significant addition to its fleet. The inaugural flight took off last Thursday from Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago O'Hare. For now, the aircraft will operate routes between O'Hare and Phoenix, as well as between O'Hare and Fort Lauderdale.
United has placed firm orders for 130 A321neos, with 30 expected to be delivered by the end of the next year. The airline's configuration for these planes includes 20 first-class seats, 57 Economy Plus seats, and 123 economy seats.
The first-class section offers 37 inches of space between rows, known as pitch, with seat widths of 20 inches and a recline of five inches. Economy Plus seats feature 33.5 inches of pitch, a width of 17.5 inches, and three inches of recline. Economy seats maintain the same width, with 30 inches of pitch and two inches of recline. This configuration is comparable to the American Airlines A321neo layout but offers slightly less space than Delta's version.
Among the customer-friendly features of the Airbus A321neo are oversized overhead bins, touted by United as the largest available, capable of accommodating every passenger's roll-aboard bag. Each seat is equipped with seatback entertainment systems and both USB-A and USB-C charging stations. Additionally, the aircraft includes United's new domestic first-class seats, which feature an 11-by-19-inch dividing shield between seats and a wireless charging station on every armrest.
United's introduction of the Airbus A321neo into its fleet represents a commitment to enhancing passenger comfort and convenience, aligning with the airline's ongoing efforts to modernize its service offerings.
