Tag Archives: United Airlines

United Airlines unveils largest international expansion

25 Tuesday Aug 2026

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The Airbus A321XLR was on display at the Farnborough International Airshow last month. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

NEWARK, N.J. – United Airlines is embarking on its largest international expansion, adding 10 destinations in Europe and Asia for summer 2027, with its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft set to operate some of the new routes, the airline announced Tuesday.

Eight of the new destinations will have no other U.S. airline offering nonstop service, according to United.

The A321XLR, which United calls its “Born to Explore” aircraft, will be deployed on new routes from Newark to Luxembourg City, Ibiza, Valencia and Marseille, and from Washington Dulles to Toulouse.

The Airbus A321XLR was a top attraction at the Farnborough International Airshow last month. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

United plans to begin flying the A321XLR on select domestic routes in September before putting it into international service Dec. 1 on flights from Washington Dulles to Amsterdam and Dublin.

The aircraft features 32 premium seats, including 20 United Polaris suites and 12 United Premium Plus seats.

Photo: Abdul Latheef.

United said it also will feature a Polaris suite with a privacy door, Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, 4K OLED screens and redesigned Economy Plus seating.

The new destinations are San Francisco to Okinawa, Japan; Newark to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Washington Dulles to Toulouse, France; Newark to Ljubljana, Slovenia; Newark to Olbia, Sardinia; Newark to Catania, Sicily; Newark to Ibiza, Spain; Newark to Valencia, Spain; Newark to Marseille, France; and Newark to Terceira in Portugal’s Azores.

United also plans new flights to destinations it already serves, including daily service from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan; three-times-weekly service from Washington Dulles to Milan; and daily service from Denver to Paris.

United said it has added 58 international destinations since 2017 and now serves more than 160 international destinations.

Tuesday’s announcement came a week after United said it had completed the first phase of an expansion of its pilot training center in Denver.

The airline said it has hired more than 9,500 pilots since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021.

All new routes are subject to government approval.

United Airlines expands ‘world’s largest’ pilot training center

20 Thursday Aug 2026

Posted by in Airlines, Aviation, United Airlines

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The United Flight Training Center in Denver has 860 CAE training equipment. Photo: United Airlines.

DENVER – United Airlines said Thursday it has completed the first phase of an expansion of what it calls the world’s largest pilot training facility, adding capacity as the U.S. carrier continues to grow amid a surging global demand for more pilots.

The United Flight Training Center now has 86 CAE training equipment, including 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.

The facility can train up to 860 pilots a day and conduct more than 32,000 training events annually, the airline said.

Boeing’s 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects the global commercial aviation industry will need about 674,000 new pilots over the next 20 years.

The 22-acre United facility has eight buildings and nearly 700,000 square feet of training space, equivalent to about 12 football fields. It is the sole training facility for United’s nearly 18,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots.

United has hired more than 9,500 pilots, including 700 this year, since announcing its United Next growth strategy in 2021. The airline plans to hire hundreds more in the coming months.

Image: United Airlines.

The second phase of the Denver training center expansion is expected to begin next year and be operational around 2030.

United has invested $370 million in the center since 2016, including more than $145 million for a new building that opened in 2024.

Operating a fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft, United flies to over 350 destinations worldwide.

Airbus showcases specially configured jets

20 Monday Jul 2026

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FARNBOROUGH, England – Airbus is showcasing two specially configured long-range aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow: an Emirates A350-900 and a United Airlines A321XLR.

Photo: United Airlines

Both aircraft highlight new cabin features. The United jet includes a row of Economy Plus seats with additional elbow room and access to a shared table positioned across an open middle seat.

United said this month it expects to offer the new seating option across its entire order of 50 A321XLRs. The airline is also exploring similar seating concepts for other aircraft types in the future.

The Emirates A350 features spacious Economy Class seating, Premium Economy cabins and upgraded Business Class seats.

Photo: Abdul Latheef

Its Economy Class cabin includes adjustable headrests that Emirates describes as an industry first. The U-Dream headrest folds down to provide support for passengers’ heads and necks on both sides and can be adjusted in multiple positions for comfort.

Emirates currently operates 13 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The airline will receive another 60 by 2031.

Boom plans ‘supersonic hub’ in North Carolina

29 Saturday Jan 2022

Posted by in Aircraft, Aviation, Supersonic, Travel

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The Overture Superfactory will be built in Greensboro, North Carolina. Photo: Boom Supersonic.

DENVER – Nearly 20 years after the Concorde made its last commercial flight, efforts to revive supersonic travel are gathering pace.

American startup Boom Supersonic said this week that it has chosen Greensboro, North Carolina, to build its Overture airliners.

The aircraft, with a capacity for up to 88 passengers, will fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuel at twice the speed of today’s fastest passenger jets, the company said.

“Selecting the site for Overture manufacturing is a significant step forward in bringing sustainable supersonic air travel to passengers and airlines,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom.

“With some of the country’s best and brightest aviation talent, key suppliers and the state of North Carolina’s continued support, Boom is confident that Greensboro will emerge as the world’s supersonic manufacturing hub.”

The Overture Superfactory will be about 400,000 square feet and constructed on a 65-acre campus at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. Economists estimate that the factory will grow the state’s economy by at least $32.3 billion over 20 years, Boom said.

The company will break ground in Greensboro this year, with production slated to begin in 2024.

A conceptual rendering of the United Airlines Overture aircraft. Photo: Boom Supersonic

United Airlines will be the launch customer of the aircraft. In June, it agreed to buy 15 airliners, with an option for an additional 35 aircraft.

Boom will test a “demonstrator” airplane, the XB-1, this year. Both the Overture and the XB-1 will feature advanced, thermally stable carbon composite airframes, which are easier to fabricate and maximize fuel efficiency, the company said.

The first Overture commercial flight is scheduled for 2029.

The previous supersonic aircraft, the Concorde, was operated by Air France and British Airways during 1976-2003. A British Airways Concorde made the final commercial flight from New York to London on Oct. 24, 2003.