I've wondered why UA doesn't have a narrow body transcon aircraft (A321) so as to offer exactly the service you're talking about on the premium transcon routes. I just rode in AA's premium A321 lie-flat service to JFK and back, and it's an excellent product. Although didn't UA recently take delivery of a few 321s?

We use our 757-200s in select markets to offer a lie flat product. BOS, EWR to LAX and SFO.

yeah - but they are tiiired and should have been gone a long time ago

The cost of adding an entire new fleet is immensely more than any benefit from downgauging routes.

Derp. You're absolutely right, of course, and I knew that. Shoulda had my coffee before posting...

there are 4 cabins for the MX10 and 321.

MAX10 - Domestic flying only for this fleet

standard cabin 180+ pax
Lie flat first class heavy premium 150+ pax

321 - NEO (Domestic only) XLR (INTL)

NEO - 200 passenger heavy hauler
XLR - Lie flat and premium 160+ pax

The Max 10 is supposed to be our premium domestic aircraft. Hence why Kirby is not happy. This summer the 757 is being sent over the Atlantic and routes like BOS-LAX/SFO are going all 737 and our premium passengers aren’t happy about that.

Short answer is no. But... Airbus needs to get A220 volume production up much higher to bring production costs down and get the program to overall profitability. There's been a lot of speculation about an A220-500 stretch, which would be a 737-8 and 320NEO killer. Airbus has been reluctant to cannibalize future 320NEO sales... but if they can barely produce enough 321s to meet orders over the next decade it might actually make sense to move on from the 320NEO with a big A220-500 launch customer. And of course, our CRJ-550s and ERJs will not last forever either and there is nothing remotely on the horizon to replace the CRJs at least. We could probably start delivieries of A220-100s and 300s in about two years while wait on -500 certification. In the meantime, we could make pretty much all our future MAX deliveries -9s or bigger to keep average gauge about the same as planned.

I think a much more likely scenario is a nice BA discount, on the 777X I hope.

from ACN

BREAKING

Airbus is reportedly aggressively pursuing United as a larger customer following United CEO's comments on Boeing's failures.

According to Boeing, United holds an order for nearly 430 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Per a report, Airbus is asking customers to give up delivery slots on A321 NEOs and offering them to United. United is one of Boeing's largest and most loyal customers.

Details: https://aerocrewnews.com/svnq

ACN is the closest thing to a Russian propaganda news media outlet that we have in the US.

Um, hello, that's what I was just referring to. Not breaking, 2 days ago.