On Sunday 28 June 2026 United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner N91007 arrived at Brussels Airport from Chicago O’Hare International Airport after operating flight UA972 ORD-BRU. It was the very first appearance of United Airlines’ eye-catching ‘Stars and Stripes’ livery at at a European airport, a livery to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and a livery which the US airline had introduced just two weeks earlier during a special unveiling event in Washington.
United Airlines flight UA 972 ORD-BRU
United Airlines flight UA972 took off from RWY 09C at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD / KORD) on the evening of Saturday 27 June 2026, at around 18:25 LT (CDT / UTC – 5). Immediately after departure it flew over Lake Michigan and after passing Detroit, Montreal and Québec City the Dreamliner set course for the Atlantic Ocean to begin its transoceanic crossing while cruising at FL350.
Three hours later, at around 05:30 UTC and about one hour after sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner had already reached the western coast of Ireland. The aircraft continued its planned route to Brussels Airport via Dublin, Ireland and London, United Kingdom. By that time it had reduced its cruising altitude to FL340, probably due to busy air traffic as hundreds of flights were making their way from North America to Europe. As soon as it reached London, it also reached its top of descent (TOD). The aircraft descended towards FL290 and by the time it crossed the Belgian coast – at around 08:32 LT (CEST / UTC + 2) – it was already flying at FL230.
The flight continued its descent and less than ten minutes later it was already flying on a downwind leg for RWY 25L at Brussels Airport. By the time it turned towards the south to intercept the localizer for RWY 25L it was flying at an altitude of only 2.000 feet. By then, tens of spotters – not only Belgian aircraft enthusiasts but also at German aircraft spotters – had gathered at the various well-known vantage points near RWY 25L to watch the landing of this impressive aircraft.
At 08:49 LT (CEST / UTC + 2) United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner N91007 made a smooth landing on RWY 25L at Brussels Airport, marking the first appearance of the aircraft at a European airport since it was repainted in late May – early June 2026 at the International Aerospace Coatings facility in Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA / KAMA) near the city of Amarillo, Texas.
Three hours later the aircraft took off from Brussels Airport again and set course for New York City as United Airlines flight UA995 BRU-EWR.
Stars and Stripes livery
On Monday 15 June 2026 United Airlines hosted a special event at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD / KIAD) to unveil a new special ‘Stars and Stripes’ livery to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, also known as the ‘United States Semiquincentennial’. The commemorative livery has been applied on only two aircraft of the United Airlines fleet:
- Boeing 737-824 N78285
- Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner N91007
The special livery is a striking red, white and blue design, with a predominantly blue fuselage featuring fifty white stars (representing each of the fifty states) next to several bold red and white diagonal stripes. According to United Airlines, both Boeing aircraft will also feature a commemorative plaque dedicated to the nation’s active duty military personnel as well as veterans.
United Airlines is the third US airline to feature a special livery dedicated to the United States’ 250th anniversary, after Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, who already their own unique design to one of their aircraft.
Early assignments across United Airlines’ global network
On Tuesday 16 June 2026 the aircraft returned to commercial service. After an early morning positioning flight from Washington to Chicago as United Airlines flight UA3902, it operated its first revenue flight in the new ‘Stars and Stripes’ livery later that day as United Airlines flight UA845 Chicago – Sao Paulo, Brazil. After returning back to Chicago, the aircraft operated nothing but rotations between Chicago and Honolulu for more than a week. On Friday 26 June 2026 it operated United Airlines flight UA2610 Chicago – San Francisco. After returning to Chicago O’Hare Internatonal Airport it was ready to make its first transatlantic crossing in the new ‘Stars and Stripes’ livery as it was scheduled to operate United Airlines flight UA972 Chicago – Brussels.
From now on, it’s safe to say that United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner will most probably operate a mix of domestic (transcontinental) flights in North America as well as international flights to destinations all over the globe that are served with United’s fleet of Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners in this configuration. Let’s hope we will be able to witness and enjoy this magnificent special livery for many years to come.
28 June 2026
