United Airlines Chooses 737 MAX 8 for New Shortest Transatlantic Route to Azores

United Airlines has announced that its new service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Terceira in the Azores will be operated with the Boeing 737 MAX 8, rather than a widebody or the Airbus A321XLR. Flights will run three times a week from June 9 to September 5, 2027, making the route the airline’s shortest European service by both distance and scheduled flying time. The decision highlights United’s confidence that a modern narrowbody can comfortably cross the Atlantic, expanding the airline’s transatlantic footprint with a smaller, more flexible aircraft. While the service is seasonal, it demonstrates a strategic shift toward using narrowbodies for shorter long‑haul routes, potentially offering operational and economic advantages.