United Airlines Holdings Inc. said it plans to introduce a row of economy seats with extra elbow room and access to a shared table, the most recent move by a major US carrier to diversify the perks and comfort levels throughout the cabin.
The middle seat in the Economy Plus rows of 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft will be replaced with a shared table for passengers in aisle and window seats. United plans to offer the first domestic flights with the updated Economy Plus seating later this year and begin international service by early 2027, the company said in a Tuesday statement.
United is following a similar playbook to that of British Airways. The UK carrier’s Club Europe seats block out the middle seat for passengers aboard its short-haul business class flights.
Chicago-based United’s announcement comes after it revealed plans earlier this year to offer economy passengers a flat-bed seating option that’s more affordable than flying in business class. The concept is similar to a feature that Air New Zealand Ltd. has offered since 2010.
On each XLR aircraft, one row will have large, custom-designed tables stretching from armrest to armrest across the open middle seats, giving travelers extra room to stretch out on long haul flights, according to the release. The table is permanently fixed, with a soft leather-like covering and two indentations for cups. And the extra space is in addition to the three inches of additional legroom already offered in Economy Plus.
Other airlines, such as Mexico-based Grupo Aeromexico SAB, are also looking for ways to improve the flying experience. Earlier this year, Australia-based Qantas Airways released its Economy Plus featuring 40% more legroom on select planes.
Last week, Delta Air Lines Inc. rolled out new Basic fares for its premium cabins, Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta One, giving passengers the same onboard seats, meals and service at a lower price in exchange for giving up the typical perks that come with a traditional business class fare.
