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United Airlines will not receive its first Airbus A321XLR until the summer of 2026. The airline had initially planned for deliveries to start in January 2026, but this timeline has been delayed by at least six months. United Airlines has ordered 50 A321XLR aircraft, aiming to modernize its fleet and expand transatlantic services from key US hubs.
During an earnings call on June 17, Executive Vice President and CFO Mike Leskinen confirmed that no A321XLR deliveries would occur this year. Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella stated that the aircraft are now expected in "the summer of 2026."
The delay comes as part of broader challenges faced by the A321XLR program, including regulatory concerns and design modifications required by aviation regulators. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) raised fire safety concerns about the rear center tank.
