United Airlines' first A321XLR departed Airbus' Hamburg facility on June 3 and was flying to Tampa, Florida, at the time of writing, in what appears to be the aircraft's delivery flight to the carrier.
The aircraft, registered N64321, completed its maiden flight on April 29 and is the first of 50 A321XLRs ordered by United in 2019. Neither Airbus nor United had publicly announced the handover by the time the aircraft crossed the Atlantic.
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United previously indicated that the A321XLR would enter commercial service during the summer of 2026 following delays to the program's original delivery schedule.
The airline has configured the aircraft with 150 seats in three classes, including 20 United Polaris business class suites, 12 Premium Plus seats and 118 economy seats, of which 36 are Economy Plus seats with additional legroom. The aircraft will also feature Starlink satellite internet connectivity.
The A321XLR is expected to fly to destinations including Tenerife, Spain; Reykjavik, Iceland; Faro and Porto, Portugal; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Shannon, Ireland.
With a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km), the A321XLR is Airbus' longest-range single-aisle aircraft. The model incorporates an additional rear center fuel tank, structural modifications and a higher maximum takeoff weight compared with earlier members of the A321neo family.
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United has said the aircraft will be used on routes that are too thin for larger widebody jets while also replacing some Boeing 757-200 operations. The carrier has previously highlighted opportunities to serve smaller destinations in Europe, North Africa and South America from hubs such as Newark.
The arrival of the first aircraft makes United the second U.S. airline to add the A321XLR to its fleet after American Airlines, which introduced the type earlier this year. Additional aircraft are expected to join the fleet over the coming years as deliveries progress.
