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.

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