After difficult times caused by the pandemic, United is planning its largest international expansion since March 2020, with the debut of new destinations and the resumption of several routes in the transatlantic market.
United will add five new destinations to its network: Amman (AMM), Azores (PDL), Bergen (BGO), Palma de Mallorca (PMI), and Tenerife (TFS). All of these routes will commence during the spring of 2022, and they are not served by any other North American carrier.
In addition, new flights will be launched serving five popular European destinations: Berlin (BER), Dublin (DUB), Milan (MXP), Munich (MUC), and Rome (FCO). Finally, United will launch seven routes disrupted due to the pandemic: Bangalore (BLR), Frankfurt (FRA), Tokyo-Haneda (HND), Nice (NCE), and Zurich (ZRH).
New destinations
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Amman, Jordan (AMM)
United will initiate a new service to the Middle East between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Amman (AMM) beginning May 5, 2022 with three weekly flights operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The only airline operator between Jordan and the United States is Royal Jordanian which offers flights to New York (JFK), Chicago O’ Hare (ORD) and Detroit (DTW), with the arrival of United it becomes the only North American carrier in the market. Delta Airlines previously operated between New York (JFK) and Amman (AMM) with Boeing 767-300ERs but discontinued the route in 2011.
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Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal (PDL)
United expands its operations in Portugal with a third destination featuring the Newark (EWR) – Ponta Delgada (PDL) flight starting May 13, 2022. It will be operated daily with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, marking the model’s transatlantic debut with the company.
During the summer, United will be flying from Newark (EWR) and Washington Dulles (IAD) to Lisbon (LIS), and from Newark (EWR) to Porto (OPO), the company will offer four daily flights to Portugal from the United States.
In the market between the United States and the Azores, United will compete with SATA Azores Airlines, which offers service to Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK). Several of these flights are offered through its bases in Ponta Delgada, Funchal and Terceira, all operated with Airbus A321LR.
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Bergen, Noruega (BGO)
United debuts a brand new and exciting new exotic destination to Norway with service between Newark (EWR) and Bergen (BGO) starting May 20 with three flights a week on Boeing 757-200s. The airline had ceased operations in Norway in 2016, with its last destination serving Oslo.
By the summer of 2022 its Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines will have flights between Oslo (OSL) and Newark (EWR), in addition to new startup Norse Atlantic Airways planning to link the Norwegian capital with New York/Stewart (SWF).
Previously Bergen (BGO) had transatlantic operations to New York and Providence by Norwegian, which then ceased due to the company’s financial measures.
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Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain (PMI)
United is venturing into new destinations in Spain, leaving behind traditional destinations such as Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN).
As of June 2, 2022, it will initiate operations between Newark (EWR) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI) with three weekly flights operated by 214-seat Boeing 767-300ERs.
New York is the most underserved intercontinental destination from Palma de Mallorca (PMI), figures obtained by Aviacionline through Aena Statistics indicate that 29,380 passengers traveled between the two cities via connections in 2019.
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Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (TSF)
In line with the trend of sun and beach destinations, United is launching its fourth destination to Spain. As of June 9, 2022, it will start its services between Newark (EWR) and Tenerife (TFS) with three weekly flights with Boeing 757-200.
Aviacionline collected data from Aena Statistics indicating that 12,386 passengers flew between Tenerife and New York through its connections, making it the second most underserved intercontinental route at Tenerife Airport.
Prior to the pandemic, the only intercontinental service at Tenerife was through the Spanish airline Plus Ultra with a connection to Caracas (CCS) with Airbus A340.
Data obtained by Aviacionline through the Cirium platform indicates that the last air service between New York and Tenerife was through Air Europa in 2012.
As an additional fact, in 1971 Iberia made the first transatlantic link between Tenerife and New York with Douglas DC-8-63.
More flights to Europe
United will expand its services to Europe’s most emblematic cities through several of its hubs
Denver (DEN) – Múnich (MUC)
with daily flights, this route is also offered by its partner Lufthansa. It will be United’s third transatlantic destination in Denver (DEN) after London Heathrow (LHR) and Frankfurt (FRA). The airline already operates to the Bavarian capital from Chicago O’ Hare (ORD), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Houston (IAH).
Chicago O ‘Hare (ORD) – Milán (MXP): this will be a seasonal service with daily flights, adding to its seasonal service between Newark (EWR) and Milan (MXP). Previously the defunct Air Italy had planned to link Chicago and Milan
Washington Dulles (IAD) – Berlín (BER): with daily flights, this new service joins Newark (EWR). United will be the only U.S. carrier with flights to the German capital. Prior to the pandemic American Airlines and Delta Airlines operated to Berlin from Philadelphia (PHL) and New York (JFK) respectively but both airlines have discontinued these routes.
Newark (EWR) – Roma (FCO): increases to two daily flights
Newark (EWR) – Dublín (EWR) : increases to two daily flights
United will bring back several seasonal routes suspended due to the pandemic by summer 2022
From Newark (EWR): Stockholm (ARN), Naples (NAP), Prague (PRG), Venice (VCE) and Shannon (SNN).
More flights to Scotland
United will resume operations to Edinburgh from Newark (EWR), Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD).
Previously announced new routes
United will begin operations to several destinations that were disrupted by the pandemic:
San Francisco – Bangalore (BLR) with daily flights beginning May 26, 2022.
Newark (EWR) – Nice (NCE) with daily flights beginning April 29, 2022.
Newark (EWR) – Frankfurt (FRA) increases to twice-daily flights beginning April 23.
Chicago O’ Hare (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) daily flights beginning April 23, 2022.
The start of Washington Dulles (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) on March 26, 2022, all routes will operate daily flights.
