United Airlines' A321XLR Delayed Again

United Airlines Delays A321XLR Deliveries Until 2026

United Airlines has confirmed that it will not receive its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft until the summer of 2026, according to statements made during its earnings call on June 17, 2025. The airline currently has 50 A321XLRs on order, but the delivery timeline has been pushed back by at least six months from its original plan of January 2026.

During the call, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen was asked whether any A321XLR deliveries would occur in 2025. He responded simply, “none this year.” Meanwhile, Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella indicated that the aircraft are now expected to arrive “in the summer of 2026,” though no specific month was mentioned.

The A321XLR order was initially placed in 2019 as part of a broader fleet modernization strategy. United aimed to replace its aging Boeing 757-200s and expand transatlantic services from key U.S. hubs like Newark, New York, and Washington, D.C. Deliveries were originally scheduled to begin in 2024, with transatlantic operations set to launch in 2025. However, the program faced setbacks due to regulatory concerns and design modifications required by aviation authorities.

One of the main issues involved fire safety concerns about the rear center tank (RCT) of the A321XLR, particularly regarding fuel tank crashworthiness and protection from fire in the event of a landing gear failure or fuselage breach. These concerns were raised by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), leading to delays in certification and subsequent production schedules.

Other U.S. Carriers and A321XLR Orders

United Airlines is not the only U.S. carrier with A321XLR orders. American Airlines also ordered 50 A321XLRs in 2019. In March 2025, the first A321XLR destined for American completed its maiden flight at Airbus' Hamburg-Finkenwerder facility. The aircraft, registered as N300NY, was expected to be delivered in the first half of 2025, but the delivery has yet to take place.

JetBlue Airways also has commitments for the A321XLR. It converted 13 existing A321neo orders into A321XLRs in June 2019. According to a December 2024 report by FlightGlobal, JetBlue expects to receive its first A321XLR in the autumn of 2025. However, the exact delivery date remains uncertain, and further delays are possible.

Frontier Airlines Abandons A321XLR Plans

Not all U.S. carriers are proceeding with their A321XLR commitments. Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, had initially planned to convert 18 A320neo orders into A321XLRs in 2019. However, in 2024, the airline canceled its plans to acquire the A321XLR. Cost-saving measures and the aircraft not meeting expectations led Frontier to abandon the narrowbody jet entirely.

Instead, the airline has focused on the A321neo, converting nearly 20 orders originally intended for the smaller A320neo. As of now, Frontier has 153 A321neos on order, according to ch-aviation data.

Global A321XLR Adoption

So far, only four operators worldwide have received the A321XLR. These include Iberia, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air (the first airline to receive the PW-powered A321XLR), and Qantas. Despite these early adopters, the aircraft has yet to meet the high expectations set by airlines like United, American, and JetBlue.

The ongoing delays for the A321XLR highlight the challenges of bringing new aircraft into service, especially when regulatory hurdles and supply chain issues come into play. As the industry continues to navigate these challenges, the future of the A321XLR remains uncertain for many airlines.