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Airline passengers hate middle seats. But that’s not why United is getting rid of some of them
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 24, 2026
· 4 min read
By Chris Isidore, CNN (CNN) — United Airlines is getting rid of some of its middle seats, the bane of any airline passenger. Last week, the airline announced it will block out two of the middle seats in the “economy plus” section of a new jet debuting this fall. That will give adjoining passenger...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 24, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway “We’re giving customers choice and value in every cabin,” said Andrew Nocella, United’s Chief Commercial Office, in a statement.
Why this matters in The El Paso
For El Paso travelers, United's decision to remove middle seats in its economy plus section may signal a shift in the airline's approach to catering to local passengers. As a major hub for air travel in the region, El Paso International Airport sees a significant number of United flights, and the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR could impact the travel experience for residents. The move to offer more premium options, including extra legroom and tables, may appeal to business travelers and those willing to pay for comfort, potentially changing the dynamics of air travel in and out of El Paso. With the airline industry evolving to focus on higher-paying customers, it will be interesting to see how this affects the overall travel experience and prices for El Paso passengers, particularly those who frequently fly to destinations within the United States.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 24, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 4 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Chris Isidore, CNN (CNN) — United Airlines is getting rid of some of its middle seats, the bane of any airline passenger. Last week, the airline announced it will block out two of the middle seats in the “economy plus” section of a new jet debuting this fall. That will give adjoining passenger...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 24, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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