United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby hinted that the airline will have some “surprises” in store for 2026.
The Chicago-based airline has a lot going on this year. Its new and upgraded Polaris Business Class cabin, including first-class Lite Polaris Studio seats, is about to make its debut. It will receive its first long-range Airbus A321XLR narrow-body aircraft, which will open up more new direct transatlantic routes. In addition, at least 14 new U.S. destinations and four international destinations will be opened, including McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) near Carlsbad, California, and Santiago Rosalia de Castro Airport (SCQ) near Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Then, there’s some information we don’t know yet: In a letter sent to staff on January 2 and seen by TPG, Kirby wrote that United still has some surprises planned for this year.
“There are things we will keep for later this year, including new aircraft types and innovative products that will shake up the industry and continue to attract and retain United’s brand-loyal customers for the next decade and beyond,” he wrote.
A United spokesperson confirmed the memo and said the new aircraft “type” comments could be “interpreted more from a customer experience perspective.”
The new aircraft “type” may refer to adjustments to the airline’s seat configuration, or perhaps upgrades to in-cabin amenities; otherwise, it may refer to its new onboard offering of the A321XLR, which will replace its aging Boeing 757-200 aircraft on transatlantic flights, or its long-promised new domestic transcontinental premium layout.
Delta Air Lines, for example, plans to launch its A321neo with 44 first-class seats sometime in 2026. Its standard A321neo layout features only 20 first-class seats.
United’s new “type” could also mean new aircraft orders, although United downplayed that possibility in comments to TPG. However, if that is the case, the new order could mean a firm commitment to new small narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A350 or Airbus A220 or the Embraer E-Jet-E2 series. Either of these aircraft types would be new to United, which already has one of the largest fleets in the world.
If United is considering increasing its order book, the airline has committed to buying 45 A350-900s since 2009. However, the company has modified and delayed the order multiple times over the past 15 years, leading many to believe the order would never actually materialize.
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In September 2025, Kirby hinted at a possible A350 decision, saying: “We will be retiring the A350 very quickly by the end of the decade. [Boeing] 767. Now is a natural time to at least consider whether to place an order for the Airbus A350 in the 2030 time frame. “
In 2017, United executives said the A350-900 could be a replacement for its fleet of 74 aging Boeing 777-200s. Then, in 2022, when the company ordered an additional 200 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, it said the plane could be a replacement for the 767 and 777.
Kirby and other United executives have previously denied the idea of an order for the smaller narrow-body aircraft. However, the possibility of such a deal does exist, given the success its competitors, especially Delta Air Lines, have had with smaller aircraft that can seat 100 to 140 passengers.
United has also reached preliminary agreements on several aircraft under development, including Boom Supersonic’s Overture supersonic airliner and Heart Aerospace’s ES-30 hybrid aircraft. None of these are classified as firm commitments in United’s financial disclosures.
There are also the “innovative products” Kirby promised in his letter. While he didn’t provide further details, these will undoubtedly build on the airline’s steady rollout of technological innovations, such as the “virtual gate” feature launched in December.
In his recent New Year’s letter to employees, Kirby said United will take delivery of more than 100 new aircraft in 2026. In addition to the first batch of A321XLRs, aircraft deliveries include the A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX 9 narrow-body jets and at least 20 twin-aisle 787s.
United Airlines is also waiting for its first 737 MAX 10. However, Boeing said the plane is unlikely to be delivered before 2027.
