Summary
- United Airlines will operate its first commercially scheduled passenger Airbus A321neo flight on November 30, departing from Houston to Chicago.
- The A321neo will initially be used for domestic flights in the United States, with services to Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix.
- United Airlines plans to expand its A321neo routes in the future, including adding the Chicago-Houston segment by March.
United Airlines has moved its inaugural Airbus A321neo flight, which will now take place on November 30, departing from Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The plane, which was delivered to United Airlines in October, has been completing a series of test flights, and it is now ready for some real action.
The first A321neo flight for United
Taking place on November 30, United Airlines is set to operate its first commercially scheduled passenger Airbus A321neo flight in its history. The aircraft, registration N44501, is set to depart from Houston at 17:30, operating flight UA321 to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
This flight is already bookable on United’s website and app, as can be seen in the picture below, showing fares ranging from $89 for basic economy to $1,963 flying in business. Simple Flying will be onboard the inaugural A321neo flight, so be sure to check out this site for updates.
Photo: United Airlines
This will be the only flight between both cities served onboard an A321neo by any US carrier.
Where will you be able to fly United’s new A321neo?
In December, United Airlines plans to operate about 23 weekly Airbus A321neo flights, all domestic in the United States.
According to data from Cirium, passengers can fly onboard the airline’s A321neo in flights departing from Chicago O’Hare to Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX). The services to Fort Lauderdale onboard the A321neo are still to be reflected on the airline’s website, per a search by Simple Flying. Nonetheless, the services to Phoenix are already bookable.
In January, United Airlines expects to offer more A321neo flights across the United States. All these services will depart from Chicago O’Hare, serving Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix, and Fort Myers (RSW). By March, United will expand even further its A321neo routes, adding the Chicago-Houston segment.
A brief look at what you can expect onboard this aircraft
United Airlines is expected to receive a total of 130 Airbus A321neo, plus 50 A321XLRs in the future. These planes will help the carrier renew its aging narrowbody fleet. According to data from ch-aviation, the airline’s current A319ceos and A320ceos average 22.1 and 25.1 years of age.
The first A321neo has a capacity for 200 passengers in a three-class configuration. In United First, the company has allocated five rows in a 2-2 configuration. Economy Plus has 57 seats. Finally, United Economy has 123 seats available.
Photo: United Airlines
United Airlines’ A321neo fleet will feature Airbus’ Airspace cabin, with a range of updated in-cabin tech to meet the needs of the passengers. This includes LED lighting to limit jet lag, upgraded window shades, and extra-large overhead bins (Airspace XL), which provide 60% more storage space. Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Christian Scherer, said last month,
“Upon introduction of the A321neo into its fleet, United will take full benefit of Airbus’ Airspace cabin, providing an exceptional customer and cabin crew experience completely in phase with the United Next initiative.”
Are you excited to try United Airlines’ new Airbus A321neo aircraft? Which route would you like to try? Let us know in the comments below.