United Airlines launches 1st 737 MAX 9 flight from IAH Airport




United Airlines (UAL) has launched its first fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, making United the first North American carrier to operate this service, the company said.

The brand new plane entered service as United flight 686 between United´s hub at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Orlando International Airport in Florida. The MAX is also scheduled to operate flights today between Houston and Anchorage, Alaska and Houston and Austin, Texas.

The 737 MAX utilizes Viasat next-generation satellite Wi-Fi, providing access to faster, more reliable Internet connections gate to gate. United will expand Viasat Wi-Fi to more than 70 aircraft, including at least 58 new 737 MAX planes over the next three years.

The 737 MAX uses Boeing´s Advanced Technology winglets and fuel efficient engines to provide a quieter ride and the ability to fly farther on less fuel. With a longer range than previous 737 models, United is able to operate the 737 MAX between Houston and Anchorage, Alaska, which previously needed to be served with larger aircraft. United expects to have 10 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet by the end of this year.

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 354 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world´s most comprehensive route network, including US mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 750 mainline aircraft and the airline´s United Express carriers operate 545 regional aircraft.