United Airlines scraps middle seat to give passengers extra space

Key Points:

• United Airlines is introducing a new Economy Plus seating design on its Airbus A321XLR fleet, where the middle seat is replaced by a shared table to provide more comfort and elbow room for window and aisle passengers.
• This innovative seating arrangement will be the first of its kind among U.S. carriers and aims to enhance passenger comfort on longer international flights.
• The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will begin domestic service this fall and international flights by early 2027, with over half the fleet operational by 2028, replacing some Boeing 757s and opening new routes to Europe and South America.
• Economy Plus seats on the A321XLR already offer three additional inches of legroom compared to standard Economy seats, further improving passenger comfort.
• United also plans to launch "Relax Row" in 2027 on Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, featuring a convertible couch-like seating option between Economy and Premium Plus cabins to aid passenger rest on long-haul flights.