United Airlines Stores Hundreds of Unused Lie-Flat Seats
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says the carrier has hundreds of new lie-flat business class seats in storage, ordered for the delayed Boeing 737 MAX 10.
United Airlines has hundreds of brand-new lie-flat business class seats sitting unused in storage. Chief Executive Scott Kirby revealed the predicament, explaining the seats were ordered years ago for the Boeing 737 MAX 10, an aircraft that still has not been delivered due to prolonged certification delays.
Kirby, who was president of United when the order was placed in 2018, approved the purchase for a fleet of MAX 10s. Those jets were intended to replace aging Boeing 757s on premium transcontinental routes, such as those linking Los Angeles and San Francisco with Newark Liberty. "We got a bunch of lie-flat seats that we don’t know what to do with," Kirby told CNBC.
Fleet Strategy Shift to Airbus
Facing continued uncertainty over the MAX 10's certification, United shifted its strategy. By 2024, the carrier reportedly turned to Airbus, ordering additional A321neo narrowbody aircraft to fill the gap left by the undelivered Boeing jets. The first of these new planes, dubbed 'Coastliners,' are expected to enter service within the next couple of months.
These Airbus jets will feature 20 new United Polaris lie-flat business class seats with all-aisle access. They represent the first narrowbody aircraft in United's fleet to receive the carrier's 'United Raise' cabin treatment. This new interior is a key part of the airline's updated plans for its premium transcontinental network.
Why the Stored Seats Don't Fit
The new Polaris seats are not the same as the hundreds now sitting in storage. Kirby stated the seats originally destined for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 simply will not fit in an Airbus A321neo cabin. This is not a simple matter of width; the Airbus cabin is actually wider than the Boeing's.
Compatibility issues like seat track configurations and sidewall contours prevent the seats from being transferred between the different aircraft models. Even the same seat model often has multiple variants tailored for specific aircraft types.
The Uncertain Future for the MAX 10s
United still plans to take delivery of the ordered Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft when they are finally certified. Their role, however, has changed. Kirby indicated these planes are no longer needed for the premium transcontinental flights they were originally intended to serve.
Consequently, the MAX 10s delivered to United will most likely be configured with standard domestic first class recliner seats instead of lie-flat business class pods. This leaves the specialized lie-flat seats purchased in 2018 without a clear purpose.
The airline may be forced to write off the cost of the unused seats. Industry observers suggest United is likely in discussions with Boeing to see if the manufacturer will cover some or all of the expense, given the delays are at the root of the problem.
Wider MAX Certification Delays
The 737 MAX 10's troubles are part of a broader, years-long saga for Boeing's MAX family. The 737-7 variant was only certified earlier this month after what the Federal Aviation Administration called "years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues."
| Aircraft Model | Certification Status | Key Planned Operator | Operator's Current Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-7 | Certified in August 2026 | Southwest Airlines | No plans to schedule before 2027 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 10 | Still pending certification | United Airlines | Delivery date remains uncertain |
Southwest Airlines, the largest planned operator of the 737-7, says it does not plan to include the aircraft in its schedule until 2027 at the earliest. For United, the wait for the MAX 10 continues, with hundreds of seats waiting in storage as a tangible symbol of the delay.
