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United Airlines has found itself with an unusual problem: hundreds of premium lie-flat seats sitting in storage with no immediate use. The seats were originally purchased for the airline’s future Boeing 737 MAX 10 fleet, which was expected to enter service years ago. However, repeated certification delays have pushed the aircraft’s debut to 2027 and forced United to rethink its fleet strategy.
Rather than continue waiting, the airline shifted its premium narrowbody plans to the Airbus A321neo, which will feature a dedicated “Coastliner” configuration for premium transcontinental routes. Because the Business Class seats were specifically designed for the 737 MAX 10, they cannot simply be transferred to the Airbus fleet.
United CEO Scott Kirby recently acknowledged the situation, saying the airline has a large inventory of lie-flat seats that currently don’t fit any aircraft in service. The carrier has not announced what it plans to do with the unused seats. Options could include eventually installing them on the delayed 737 MAX 10s, selling them if possible, or finding another use for the expensive cabin components.
Anthony’s Take: The situation highlights the ripple effects of the Boeing 737 MAX 10’s prolonged certification delays, which have forced airlines to adjust fleet plans while leaving some previously ordered equipment without a home.
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
