United Reduces Economy Seating in New Cabin Concept

With its new “Elevated” cabin concept to be introduced on the Boeing 787-9 fleet, United Airlines has clearly shifted its focus toward premium passengers on long-haul flights. According to the newly announced layout, the aircraft will feature only 90 economy seats, while the remaining 132 seats will be allocated to the Polaris Studio, Polaris Business, Premium Plus, and Economy Plus segments.

In the new 222-seat configuration, the share of economy class has been significantly reduced, while the upper segments—particularly the Polaris Studio suites—have been further strengthened. The reduction of economy seating from 149 seats on the current 787-9s to 90 under this layout highlights United’s strategy of prioritizing unit revenue over capacity.

The new-cabin 787-9s are expected to join the fleet toward the end of 2025, with entry into scheduled service planned for 2026. United aims to deploy these aircraft primarily on long-haul routes with high revenue potential.