In an interview with Business Insider dated 25 August, United Airlines Senior Vice President Global Network Planning and alliances, Patrick Quayle, said the carrier planned to replace its Boeing 757 fleet with the brand new Airbus A321XLR’s from late 2025.

United Airlines Senior Vice President Global Network Planning and alliances, Patrick Quayle, said “The 757 is getting a bit uneconomic, but we want to continue flying to these cities, and the A321XLR is longer-ranged and has much better fuel burn and maintenance costs.”

The US carrier has an order for 50 Airbus A321neo(XLR)s. They will mainly be used on flights to international destinations and open new city pair routes from hubs in Newark/New York and Washington, D.C. The airline currently operates its 174 seat Boeing 757-200s to international destinations including Dublin and Shannon.

The next-generation A321XLR offers an elevated inflight experience and features modern amenities including LED lighting, larger overhead bin space and Wi-Fi connectivity. Additionally, the new aircraft lowers overall fuel burn per seat by about 30% when compared to previous generation aircraft, with a range of up to 4,700nm.

Image Credit: United Airlines

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