United’s Airbus A321neos Will Start Flying in December

It’s almost time for United’s shiny new Airbus A321neo jets to take to the skies.

The first A321neo in the airline’s order of 70 jets will operate its first passenger flight on December 14, 2023, on a nonstop flight between Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and Phoenix (PHX).

Let’s take a look at the details of this exciting announcement.

United’s Airbus A321neos Will Fly This December

The inaugural flight of United’s first passenger-carrying Airbus A321neo is currently scheduled for December 14, 2023, as reported by Ishrion Aviation, and will operate from Chicago — an important hub for the airline — to Phoenix, Arizona.

The service, with a planned departure of 9:20 a.m., has been given the commemorative flight number UA321 to mark the special occasion.

On the same day, United will operate a second A321neo flight from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

From their new home at O’Hare, the new aircraft will operate only to Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix until the airline assigns the aircraft to additional routes from Chicago, including Fort Myers (RSW), Las Vegas (LAS), and Orlando (MCO).

What To Expect From United’s A321neos

The upcoming Airbus A321neos will feature the latest and greatest aircraft manufacturers and airlines have to offer. While you can expect the economy cabin to be just as densely packed as what you’ll find across the industry, the updated first class cabins will be a joy to travel in, especially when compared to some of the airline’s older jets.

Thanks to wireless charging, USB-C ports, seat dividers, and larger IFE screens and tray tables, United’s A321neos will join the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 737s in offering the best domestic first class cabins out of the carrier’s entire narrow-body fleet.

The jets will have the capacity for up to 200 passengers — with 20 seats in first class, 57 extra-legroom economy seats, and 123 “regular” economy seats.

Final Thoughts

United’s newest aircraft has been scheduled to carry passengers for the first time before the end of the year.

We’ll be sure to let you know what it’s like to fly as soon as we get the chance!