United Airlines' 11 Longest Nonstop Boeing 737 MAX Routes In 2026

Paul has had a career of 25+ years focused on the international technology sector, which has taken him to over 100 countries. Along the way, he developed a deep love for aviation, with a travel bucket list measured by aircraft types flown rather than destinations reached. Now he brings that avgeek passion, along with the journalism experience he accumulated early in his career, to write insightful pieces for Simple Flying.

United Airlines is pushing its Boeing 737 MAX fleet to new limits, deploying the narrowbody aircraft on nonstop flights exceeding 3,300 miles (5,311 km). From Alaska to the Atlantic, the MAX 8 and MAX 9 have become increasingly important to the carrier's long-distance network, supporting routes that might otherwise struggle to justify larger aircraft.

However, two European additions have recorded disappointing initial passenger loads as they started their Summer 2026 season, illustrating the risks of expanding into thinner markets. Meanwhile, United's MAX fleet continues growing rapidly, with the long-awaited Boeing 737 MAX 10 expected to join the airline in 2027. Together, these developments highlight both the opportunities and challenges facing United as it expands its narrowbody operations.

United's 11 Longest Boeing 737 MAX Routes In 2026

United's longest scheduled Boeing 737 MAX route in 2026 connects Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with Anchorage International Airport (ANC), covering 3,369 miles (5,422 km). Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Anchorage follows closely at 3,356 miles (5,401 km), while Newark to Santiago de Compostela ranks third at 3,310 miles (5,327 km). Four of the 11 routes are domestic, connecting the contiguous United States with Alaska, while four more cross the Atlantic.

All 11 routes use the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which has a significant range advantage over the larger Boeing 737 MAX 9 that United also operates. Boeing advertises a maximum range of 3,500 nautical miles (4,028 miles; 6,482 km) for the MAX 8, compared with 3,300 nautical miles (3,798 miles; 6,112 km) for the MAX 9, making the smaller aircraft particularly suitable for United's longest narrowbody services.

United's standard MAX 8 configuration accommodates 166 passengers across three cabins, comprising 16 United First recliner seats, 54 Economy Plus seats, and 96 standard Economy seats. Unlike the airline's long-haul widebodies or the Airbus A321XLR, the MAX 8 does not offer lie-flat Polaris business class seating, making it a less-premium option for transatlantic flying. However, passengers benefit from 13-inch entertainment screens in First Class and 10-inch screens in Economy, alongside Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging and larger overhead bins.

United's New European MAX Routes Show Improving Passenger Demand

Two of United's longest MAX routes were added to its transatlantic schedule in May 2026. Daily nonstop flights between Newark and Glasgow International Airport (GLA) resumed on May 8, restoring a transatlantic route last operated by a Boeing 757-200 in 2019. Meanwhile, three-times-weekly service to Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) commenced on May 27, marking the first nonstop connection between the United States and the Spanish pilgrimage destination.

Both of these routes formed part of a wider European expansion that also introduced flights to Bari and Split. United has increasingly marketed distinctive European destinations, betting that US travelers will embrace new nonstop opportunities beyond traditional gateways such as London and Paris.

However, initial data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) suggested that both routes had experienced a difficult start. Santiago performed the worst, recording 58% in its abbreviated opening month and 64% in June. Meanwhile, Glasgow carried 4,977 round-trip passengers in May, achieving a load factor of just 64%, which improved modestly to 69% in June.

By the peak summer travel of July, both had improved, with Santiago surpassing an 80% load factor. However, the Glasgow route still hovered under three quarters full, which is particularly notable in comparison with Newark to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), which operated at a 91% load factor across July. The difference raises questions about the depth of demand for two nonstop routes connecting the New York metropolitan area with Scotland, particularly during the summer travel season.

However, while the BTS data for August onwards is not yet available, we can assume that Glasgow continued to improve. United extended the seasonal service by a month, continuing through to the end of October, and has already confirmed that the route will return for the 2027 summer season. This shows that even with a weak startup, the MAX 8's relatively modest capacity makes it easier for United to explore such thinner markets rather than assume the risk of deploying a larger widebody.

United's Boeing 737 MAX Fleet Is Set For Further Growth

United's commitment to the MAX extends considerably beyond its longest routes. The airline ended 2025 with 243 aircraft, comprising 123 MAX 8s and 120 MAX 9s, and its July 2026 fleet plan projected 323 by year-end. That represents an increase of 80 aircraft (33%), or more than six new MAX aircraft delivered each month, on average. The expansion follows years of substantial investment under the United Next modernization program, which aims to replace aging aircraft, increase average seats per departure, and improve operating efficiency.

United also has a substantial pipeline of MAX deliveries extending into the next decade, with 230 outstanding firm commitments, comprising 63 MAX 9s and 167 MAX 10s. The MAX 9 deliveries are set to be completed by the end of next year, with 40 aircraft scheduled to be added in the second half of this year, followed by 23 in 2027. Next year is also when the first 20 MAX 10s are projected to arrive, pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. The latest news is that the certification is expected within the coming weeks, marking an end to years of safety concerns and manufacturing delays.

The net result is that United's fleet expansion will eventually make it the world's second-largest MAX operator with more than 500 of the type. This places it behind only Southwest Airlines, which currently has firm orders for nearly 800 MAX aircraft, as well as 138 options beyond its firm order book, but well ahead of Ryanair's current firm-order trajectory (360 aircraft), underlining the importance of the MAX family to United's long-term growth strategy.