United Airways CEO Scott Kirby is hinting at some “surprises” to come back from the service in 2026.
There’s a lot on faucet from the Chicago-based airline this yr. Its new, upgraded Polaris business class (which incorporates the first class-lite Polaris Studio seats) is about to debut. It would take supply of its first long-range Airbus A321XLR narrow-body, which is about to open much more new transatlantic nonstops. Plus, there are no less than 14 new U.S. locations and 4 worldwide locations — together with McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) close to Carlsbad, California, and Santiago-Rosalia de Castro Airport (SCQ) close to Santiago de Compostela, Spain — on the way in which.
Then, there’s the knowledge we don’t but know: In a letter despatched to workers on Jan. 2 and considered by TPG, Kirby wrote that United nonetheless had some surprises deliberate for this yr.
“We’re saving a couple of issues for later this yr that embody new plane varieties and progressive merchandise that may shake-up the business and proceed to draw and retain model loyal prospects to United for the following decade and past,” he wrote.
A United spokesperson confirmed the memo and stated the brand new plane “varieties” remark could be learn “extra when it comes to buyer expertise.”
The brand new airplane “sort” might confer with a shakeup within the airline’s seating configurations or maybe amenity upgrades in its cabins; in any other case, it might confer with a brand new onboard providing for its A321XLRs that may exchange getting older Boeing 757-200s on flights throughout the Atlantic or the long-promised new home transcontinental premium format.
Delta Air Traces, for instance, plans to introduce an A321neo with a 44-seat first class cabin someday in 2026. Its normal A321neo format comes with simply 20 first-class seats.
A brand new “sort” for United might additionally recommend a brand new airplane order, although United performed down that risk in its feedback to TPG. Nonetheless, if in play, an order for a brand new sort might confer with a agency dedication for the Airbus A350 or a brand new small narrow-body plane like within the Airbus A220 or Embraer E-Jet-E2 households. Any of these airplane varieties can be new to United, which already has one of many largest fleets on the earth.
If United is contemplating an addition to its order e-book, the airline already has a dedication for 45 A350-900s on its books that dates again to 2009. Nonetheless, it has repeatedly modified and postponed the order over the previous 15 years, main many to consider it is going to by no means really come to fruition.
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In September 2025, Kirby hinted at a possible A350 decision, saying, “By the tip of the last decade, we will likely be nicely into retiring the [Boeing] 767. It’s a pure time to no less than take into consideration whether or not to make the Airbus A350 order agency within the 2030 timeframe.”
United executives in 2017 spoke of the A350-900 as a attainable alternative for its 74 getting older Boeing 777-200s. After which, in 2022 when it ordered up to another 200 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, it spoke of the plane as a attainable 767 and 777 alternative.
Kirby and different United executives have beforehand dismissed speak of a small narrow-body order. Nonetheless, given the success its rivals (notably Delta) have had with smaller jets that seat between 100 and 140 passengers, the opportunity of such a deal does exist.
United additionally has tentative offers for a number of in-development planes, together with Increase Supersonic’s Overture supersonic airliner and Coronary heart Aerospace’s ES-30 hybrid-electric plane. Neither of those are categorized as agency commitments in United’s monetary disclosures.
After which there are the “progressive merchandise” that Kirby additionally promised in his letter. Whereas he provided no further particulars, these would undoubtedly construct on the technological improvements the airline has steadily unveiled, such because the “virtual gate” function it debuted in December.
In his latest New Years letter to workers, Kirby stated United will take supply of greater than 100 new planes in 2026. Along with its first A321XLRs, deliveries will embody A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX 9 narrow-body jets and no less than 20 twin-aisle 787s.
United can also be awaiting its first 737 MAX 10. Nonetheless, Boeing has indicated the airplane is unlikely to deliver earlier than 2027.
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