Star Alliance carrier 
United Airlines
is rapidly growing its fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft. The airline now has 25 of the next-generation models in its fleet and was spotted flying one of the planes to Hawaii on what could potentially be a proving flight for future routes with the type to Hawaii.
Preparing for the future
The addition of the A321neo is part of the carrier’s larger plan to modernize its fleet with more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft. The first A321neos entered the fleet just over a year ago, in December 2023, and the airline has now taken delivery of 25 models.
Related
United Airlines Takes Delivery Of Its 25th Airbus A321neo
With more aircraft on the way, United aims to surpass 1,000 active aircraft and become the largest airline in the world.
Interestingly, it was one of the models that was previously grounded due to an issue with elevated VHF radio static that had been seen embarking on a Pacific adventure. Based on flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the model registered N14506 flew from California to Hawaii and back on a non-commercial flight.
It would appear that the plane is on a proving tour to test its Extended Range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) capabilities. The ETOPS certification determines how far a twin-engine aircraft can fly on only one engine.
Photo: Airbus
Before planes can be certified on over-water corridors or other routes that take them beyond a certain distance for a diversion airport, they must undergo this ETOPS certification. While a United Airlines spokesperson was not immediately available to confirm the purpose of the flight, the flight tracking data and lack of paying passengers indicate that this could indeed be a proving flight for the new aircraft.
Related
How ETOPS Works: Everything You Need To Know
The first official ETOPS operations were carried out by a TWA Boeing 767 in 1985.
Where did the United Airlines A321neo fly?
The Airbus A321neo
in question is part of a 2021 order from United Airlines. It took its first flight on February 28th, 2024, and was delivered to United on March 12th. Since its delivery, it has been flying from Chicago (ORD) to various domestic destinations, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
On Monday, December 9th, the plane flew from its base in Chicago to Portland (PDX) and back before continuing on to San Francisco (SFO), where it remained overnight. The following day, it departed SFO at 12:40 and embarked on a journey lasting 5 hours and 11 minutes to Honolulu (HNL).
The flight covered a distance of around 2,084 nautical miles and ended in a smooth landing in Hawai’i at 15:52. The return leg departed Honolulu at 10:27 the following morning and traveled for 4 hours and 46 minutes to arrive in San Francisco at 17:13 on December 11th. The plane returned to Chicago on Thursday and has since flown to Fort Lauderdale and back. It is currently en route from Chicago to Las Vegas.
Related
United Airlines Inks Deal For 40 Leased Airbus A321neos
United Airlines has firmed up previous preliminary agreements with aircraft lessors for 40 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
United Airlines’ move to fly its A321neos to Hawaii would not be unprecedented. Fellow US carrier Delta Air Lines has the A321neo scheduled on several Hawaiian routes this month. According to data from Cirium, Delta will fly the type to Kailua-Kona (KOA), Maui (OGG), and Lihue (LIH) from Los Angeles (LAX) and from Seattle (SEA) to all three island airports, plus Honolulu.
American Airlines is also flying its A321neos to Hawai’i. The oneworld Alliance carrier will serve all four of the aforementioned airports from both Los Angeles and Phoenix (PHX) this month.
Related
How To Visit Hawaii For A Winter Getaway Using Miles
A closer look at how to visit Hawaii using airline miles and points this winter.