United Expands Premium Boeing 787-9 to Houston Routes
United Airlines is expanding its premium Boeing 787-9 aircraft to four international routes from Houston (IAH), marking the first sustained use of the Elevated interior outside San Francisco (SFO). The new aircraft, which features a redefined long-haul cabin with upgraded amenities, will operate on flights to São Paulo (GRU), Tokyo Narita (NRT), and Sydney (SYD) starting October 24, 2026. London Heathrow (LHR) will be added as a fourth route on January 5, 2027.
The Boeing 787-9 contains only 222 seats, including 8 Polaris Studio suites, 56 standard Polaris suites, 35 Premium Plus seats, and 84 standard economy seats. This configuration carries the highest percentage of premium seats among United States carriers.
United plans to have at least 30 Elevated 787-9s in service worldwide by the end of 2027, with a target of 33 aircraft by 2028.