United Airlines switches to paper cups for all in-flight drinks
United Airlines is replacing its plastic cups for cold and alcoholic drinks, and its hot-drink paper cup, with a single dual-layer paper cup with a water-based coating. The fleet-wide switch is timed to its November in-flight menu, after a rollout that began on 1 August 2026 on selected international and United Express flights. United expects the change to remove 250 million single-use plastic cups a year; the switch also brings it into line with regulations in several international destinations it serves.
Why this mattersA major airline's fleet-wide move from plastic to a universal paper cup signals growing brand-owner demand for mono-material, recyclable foodservice packaging ahead of tightening plastics rules.
- The switch is expected to eliminate 250 million single-use plastic cups a year.
- One dual-layer paper cup with a water-based coating replaces plastic cups and the former hot-drink paper cup for hot, cold and alcoholic drinks.
- Rollout began on 1 August 2026 on selected international and United Express flights.
- Fleet-wide completion is timed to the November 2026 in-flight menu.
- The new cups are described as recyclable and compostable.
- The switch brings United into line with regulations in several international destinations it serves.
Sources
thetravel.com