United Airways CEO Scott Kirby is hinting at some “surprises” to return from the provider 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 ready to debut. It’s going to take supply of its first long-range Airbus A321XLR narrow-body, which is ready to open much more new transatlantic nonstops. Plus, there are a minimum of 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 seen by TPG, Kirby wrote that United nonetheless had some surprises deliberate for this yr.
“We’re saving just a few issues for later this yr that embody new plane sorts and progressive merchandise that may shake-up the trade and proceed to draw and retain model loyal prospects to United for the subsequent decade and past,” he wrote.
A United spokesperson confirmed the memo and stated the brand new plane “sorts” remark might be learn “extra by way of buyer expertise.”
The brand new aircraft “sort” might check with a shakeup within the airline’s seating configurations or maybe amenity upgrades in its cabins; in any other case, it may check with a brand new onboard providing for its A321XLRs that may change ageing 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 top quality seats.
A brand new “sort” for United may additionally recommend a brand new airplane order, although United performed down that chance in its feedback to TPG. Nonetheless, if in play, an order for a brand new sort may check 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 aircraft sorts 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. Nevertheless, it has repeatedly modified and postponed the order over the previous 15 years, main many to consider it’ll by no means really come to fruition.
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In September 2025, Kirby hinted at a possible A350 decision, saying, “By the top of the last decade, we shall be properly into retiring the [Boeing] 767. It’s a pure time to a minimum of 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 ageing 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 discuss of a small narrow-body order. Nevertheless, given the success its rivals (notably Delta) have had with smaller jets that seat between 100 and 140 passengers, the potential 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 labeled as agency commitments in United’s monetary disclosures.
After which there are the “progressive merchandise” that Kirby additionally promised in his letter. Whereas he supplied 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 current 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 a minimum of 20 twin-aisle 787s.
United can be awaiting its first 737 MAX 10. Nevertheless, Boeing has indicated the aircraft is unlikely to deliver earlier than 2027.