United Airlines’ plan to revamp older narrow-body aircraft is delayed due to supply chain issues

United Airlines’ plan to renovate the cabins of its older narrow-body aircraft is being delayed due to supply chain issues, according to CNBC. The airline’s intended upgrades include larger premium cabins, seat-back entertainment screens, Bluetooth capabilities, and other amenities throughout the planes.

Originally, the Chicago-based airline had planned to have 100 of its narrow-body planes retrofitted with the new interiors by the end of this year, but due to supply chain constraints, they now anticipate that only 60 planes will be complete by then.

United unveiled the renovated cabins in June 2021, along with an order for 270 new Boeing and Airbus narrow-body planes, in an effort to rejuvenate its brand as airlines compete for passengers in the travel recovery, especially among high-spending customers.

United plans to have more premium seats available for purchase on each flight than any other airline in North America by 2026, as demand for elusive upgrades and the number of elite travelers with ample frequent flyer points continues to rise.

United’s chief commercial officer, Andrew Nocella, recently stated that the carrier will have several production lines working on revamping the interiors of the narrow-body planes this summer to speed up the process. By the end of the year, the airline expects that approximately one in three aircraft in its narrow-body fleet, including new aircraft, will have the upgraded interior.

The airline had originally planned to finish the narrow-body upgrades by 2025, but it remains uncertain if they will meet that deadline.

In other news, United announced that all of its wide-body planes will have premium economy seats and Polaris seats, the carrier’s highest tier class on international and other long-haul flights, by August.

Other airlines, such as JetBlue and Delta Air Lines, have also been upgrading their top-tier classes, installing new seats, and offering additional services like free Wi-Fi. Delta executives have reported that revenue growth for premium seats like business class or premium economy has outpaced sales from standard coach.