FLEET - United Airlines announces new CRJ450 version

Duncan Stewart - LAX

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) expects to retrofit about fifty CRJ200 aircraft into the new CRJ450 version by 2030, the company said in a statement. The new variant is expected to seat 41 passengers.

United said in a statement that the CRJ450 “is a first-of-its-kind regional aircraft, designed to evoke the feeling of a private jet experience for travellers in the United First cabin.” To do so, the company will remove the overhead bins in this section in favour of a large luggage closet.

The CRJ450 will join the CRJ550, a variation of the CRJ700, so that “by 2028, United expects to have more than fifty CRJ450s and nearly 120 CRJ550s in service,” the carrier outlined.

At the end of 2025, United had thirty CRJ200s in its fleet, all sourced from SkyWest Airlines (OO, St. George Municipal), flying under the United Express brand and with a configuration for 50 passengers.

In a statement to ch-aviation, SkyWest said: “We’re excited to partner with United to elevate the onboard customer experience, reimagining the CRJ200 into the enhanced CRJ450. Our first CRJ450 modification is in process, and we expect to begin operating this premium United Express product beginning in fall 2026, with more than 50 in service by 2028.”

To make the modifications, the companies require a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the new interiors, which has not yet been granted, but is in process, from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ch-aviation understands.

SkyWest Airlines has 130 CRJ200s in its fleet, with an average age of 23 years.

In the past, MHI RJ Aviation manufactured the CRJ440LR version, a 44-seater version of the CRJ200. However, no aircraft of the type are currently active, and many were reconfigured later into the 50-seater CRJ200.

Over 250 deliveries by 2028

In addition to the announcement about the CRJ450, United Airlines said it expects to take delivery of over 250 new aircraft by April 2028. This includes forty-seven B787-9s (thirty-three of them configured with additional premium seats), fifty-eight A321-200NX (including forty in what the company calls the Coastliner configuration), twenty-eight A321-200NY(XLR)s, and 119 B737 MAX.

The A321neo Coastliner and the A321-200NY(XLR) will feature all-aisle-access lie-flat seats in United Polaris. Scott Kirby, United’s chief executive, said this was a continuation of the company’s plan United Next growth strategy launched in 2021 and aims to create a more consistent premium onboard experience

CH Aviation