United Airlines Plans 250+ Aircraft Expansion by 2028

United Airlines announced plans Tuesday to expand its fleet by more than 250 aircraft by April 2028, marking the largest two-year addition by any airline in history, while introducing upgraded cabin products across all service classes to enhance passenger comfort on domestic and international routes.

The Chicago-based carrier, which operates the world's largest route network by available seat miles among North American airlines, detailed the initiative as part of its ongoing United Next strategy launched in 2021. Since then, United has added dozens of new planes, retrofitted narrowbody aircraft, increased premium seating by 40 percent per departure and hired over 60,000 employees. The expansion includes 100 Airbus A321neo and A321XLR jets, 47 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, 119 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, 18 additional A321neos and more than 50 redesigned regional CRJ450 jets operated by partner SkyWest Airlines.

Central to the announcement are two new narrowbody configurations designed after five years of development, including customer sleep trials. The Airbus A321neo Coastliner, a subfleet of 50 planes with 40 entering service by early 2028, will feature 20 all-aisle-access lie-flat...