United Airlines will add 250+ aircraft by 2028, including the new CRJ-450 regional jet and expanded premium seating across its fleet.
United Airlines has made its intentions clear. The company is not taking a slow approach to the future; it is moving forward quickly.
The airline plans to receive more than 250 new aircraft by April 2028, marking the largest two-year fleet expansion of any airline.
This marks the next step in United’s ongoing effort to focus its brand on a more premium experience. CEO Scott Kirby says the airline has been working toward this goal for years.
“For more than a decade, we’ve invested billions of dollars in our product, service, and technology,” Kirby said in a press release dated 24 March 2026. “Today we accelerate our plans and elevate our offerings to the next level.”
United keeps using the word “elevate,” but what it really comes down to is consistency. The airline wants the experience to feel familiar, whether you are flying coast to coast, across the ocean, or into a smaller regional airport.
A Premium Experience on Every Aircraft
Nearly every part of this announcement focuses on the same goal: more premium seats, more premium routes, and more premium options throughout the fleet.
For example, consider the new Airbus A321neo “Coastliner.”
This narrowbody aircraft is usually used for domestic flights. However, United is equipping it with lie-flat Polaris business class seats, which are typically found on widebody planes flying long international routes.
Additionally, passengers flying Polaris on these transcontinental routes will have access to United’s Polaris lounges. This is the first time domestic travelers will have this benefit.
The Airbus A321XLR will begin replacing Boeing 757s on less-traveled international routes. These jets will have more premium seats than the planes they replace and are expected to open new destinations in Europe and South America.
For long-haul flights, United is introducing its updated Boeing 787-9 with the new “Elevated” interior. The main feature is the Polaris Studio suite, which is larger, more private, and includes upgrades like bigger screens, wireless charging, and improved dining.
Put it all together, and you can see what United is trying to do. It is not just adding airplanes. It is trying to make the experience feel familiar and premium, no matter which aircraft you end up on.
As Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella put it, the goal is to give customers “more premium amenity and seat choices” across the entire network.
The CRJ-450: Transforming United’s Least Popular Aircraft
And then there is the airplane that feels like it comes from a completely different conversation.
The CRJ-450.
Anyone who has flown on a CRJ-200 likely has an opinion about it. It has long been one of the least popular aircraft in US aviation, known for its cramped cabins, limited storage, and basic amenities. The “Nickelback of the skies,” if you will.
United is not retiring the CRJ-200. Instead, the airline is reimagining it. Before forming an opinion, it is worth seeing what changes United is making.
The CRJ-450 is a modified CRJ-200, with seating reduced from 50 to 41. Rather than fitting in more passengers, United is using the extra space to create a premium layout, which is uncommon for regional jets.
The aircraft will feature seven first-class seats and 34 economy seats, including extra-legroom Economy Plus.
Up front, the overhead bins are gone entirely. In their place is a dedicated luggage closet, which opens up the cabin and eliminates one of the most frustrating parts of flying on smaller jets. In the back, larger bins mean more passengers can actually bring their carry-ons onboard.
These jets will also feature Starlink Wi-Fi, which is widely considered the fastest in-flight internet available. MileagePlus members will have access to this service for free.
SkyWest will operate these planes under the United Express brand, with service beginning this fall. Their main purpose is to connect smaller cities to United’s hubs at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Denver (DEN). United plans to have 50 of these aircraft in service by April 2028.
Why is United investing so much in a small regional jet?
Part of the answer comes down to pilot contract scope clauses. United has stricter limits than its competitors on how many larger regional jets it can operate. But smaller 50-seat aircraft are not capped the same way.
So instead of walking away from those aircraft, United is redesigning them.
United is using the same approach it took with the CRJ-550, of which it expects to operate 120 by April 2028. The difference now is that this strategy is being applied to one of the least popular planes in the fleet.
Nocella summed up the intent clearly: “What we’ve done here, with the 450 and the 550, is to bring a consistent level of service across all of our aircraft.”
That said, this is not a magic transformation. The CRJ-450 is still, at its core, a CRJ-200. It is a significant upgrade, but it is not suddenly turning regional flying into a widebody experience.
But it certainly helps elevate the CRJ experience and gives it a more private-adjacent feel.
A New Option for Economy Travelers Who Want More Space
One of the more surprising additions in United’s announcement is not in business class or first class. It is in economy.
United is introducing what it calls the “United Relax Row,” a redesigned row of three economy seats that can convert into a lie-flat, couch-like space after takeoff. It is a concept aimed at long-haul travelers who want more room without stepping up to a premium cabin.
The setup features adjustable leg rests that fold upward to create a flat surface, giving passengers the ability to stretch out, rest, or sleep in a way that is not typically possible in economy. The product is positioned for families with small children, couples, and even solo travelers who simply want more personal space on longer flights.
To go with that added space, United is bundling in a set of upgraded amenities. Passengers will receive a custom mattress pad, extra pillows, specially sized blankets, and, for families, a plush toy and children’s travel kit designed to make the experience more comfortable.
United plans to roll out the Relax Row starting in 2027, with the goal of installing it on more than 200 Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft by 2030. Each aircraft could feature up to 12 of these sections, positioned between standard economy and Premium Plus.
According to Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella, the idea is to extend the airline’s premium push beyond its traditional cabins. “Customers traveling in United Economy on long-haul flights deserve an option for more space and comfort,” he said, adding that United is currently the only North American airline offering a product like it.
More Than Growth: A New Direction
The first deliveries from this expansion, including the A321neo Coastliner, A321XLR, and updated 787-9, will enter service in 2026. The CRJ-450 will join later this year under SkyWest, focusing on connecting smaller markets to two of United’s main hubs.
United expects most of these aircraft to be in service by 2028.
By the end of the decade, United will have a much more modern fleet, with more premium seats, better connections from smaller markets, and new onboard products on both mainline and regional planes.
It’s another signal of where the industry is heading, with airlines placing a greater emphasis on premium cabins and higher-value travelers.
A321XLR
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
A321 Coastliner
