United Airlines launches row with no middle seat

United Airlines launches row with no middle seat centers on a new Economy Plus configuration designed to improve the in-cabin experience on its Airbus A321XLR fleet. The Chicago-based carrier announced Tuesday that certain aircraft will feature a “special row in Economy Plus” where the middle seat is removed and replaced by shared spaces with large custom tables. United said all 50 of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will include this special row, with one row per plane. The fixed table will run from reposabrazos a reposabrazos, with a soft, leather-like covering and two cup indentations, and is intended to give window and aisle passengers extra space on longer international flights. United also highlighted that this comes on top of the three additional inches of legroom already offered in Economy Plus on the XLR. For passengers, United says each seat will include a large 4K OLED screen with Bluetooth connectivity, and the airline will sell the new offering later in 2026. United expects first domestic flights on the aircraft later this fall, with international service beginning by early 2027.