United Airlines has announced that it will be introducing its Airbus A321XLR into international service on December 1st. The aircraft will initially fly from Washington Dulles to Amsterdam and Dublin, with tickets for these flights becoming available on August 27th.

Before its international debut, the A321XLR will operate select domestic routes starting in September. The specific routes have not yet been disclosed by United.

Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, stated during a news conference that the A321XLR is a specialized aircraft that is ideal for long-haul flights. The aircraft will have a premium configuration with 20 Polaris suites and 12 Premium Plus seats, for a total of 32 premium seats. Each Polaris suite will have a privacy door, and the aircraft will also feature 4K OLED entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity, complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, and a snack bar in economy. In addition, United will introduce an Economy Plus option with extra space and access to a shared table across an open middle seat.

Quayle also mentioned that United’s A321XLR will have 16 more premium seats than its Boeing 757-200, making it a unique offering in the market. He expressed confidence in the combination of the onboard product and nonstop service to cities that typically require a connection, stating that United is “bullish” on the aircraft.

However, Quayle did acknowledge that the range of the A321XLR is not as advertised by Airbus. He stated that the aircraft’s range was initially marketed as being longer than its current capabilities, but United feels that they are being conservative with their estimation of the aircraft’s range.

United placed an order for the A321XLR in 2019, and Quayle assured that the airline will receive enough aircraft to support its planned schedule. The carrier received its first A321XLR in June and is confident in the revised delivery stream from Airbus.

The A321XLR will also play a role in the retirement of United’s aging Boeing 757 fleet. Quayle mentioned that as more A321XLRs enter service, the older 757s will be phased out.

In the summer of 2027, United plans to operate the A321XLR on routes from Newark to Luxembourg, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille, as well as between Washington Dulles and Toulouse, France. Luxembourg and Toulouse will have year-round service, while the other three routes will run until October. With the introduction of the A321XLR, United aims to provide a top-of-the-line experience for passengers while also modernizing its fleet.