United To Ditch The Middle Seat With Special Economy Plus Row On New Planes

United Airlines plans to introduce a new option for travelers on its brand-new jets: Rows with open middle seats and shared tables, the company announced Tuesday.

The airline said each of its 50 planned Airbus A321XLR jets will include one Economy Plus row where the middle seats are replaced by permanently installed tables.

Passengers in the window and aisle seats will have additional elbow room and cup holders, along with the extra legroom already offered in Economy Plus, United said.

United expects to begin selling the seats later this year, with flights starting soon afterward.

Pricing and specific routes have not been announced, but the airline says the Airbus planes will replace aging Boeing 757 jets. Those planes are currently used on a long list of routes in and out of the San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego airports.

The airline said it expects to be the only U.S. carrier offering the seating configuration.

United plans to launch domestic A321XLR flights later this fall, followed by international service by early 2027. The aircraft will also feature 32 premium seats, seatback entertainment screens throughout the cabin and larger overhead bins.