United Airlines has announced the largest international expansion in its history with service to eight new cities. Starting in May 2025, United will launch five new nonstop flights from its hub in Newark/New York to destinations including Nuuk, Palermo, Bilbao, Madeira Island and Faro. The airline is also adding three new nonstop routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including its first-ever flight to Dakar operating year-round and new seasonal nonstop flights to Nice and Venice.
United’s summer 2025 transatlantic schedule will be the largest in its history with more than 760 weekly flights. In addition to new flights, customers will have even more time to explore Venice, Athens and Barcelona with earlier start dates next summer. The airline will also increase the number of weekly direct flights between Newark/New York-Palma de Mallorca, Newark/New York-Dubrovnik and Newark/New York-Athens.
United is also adding new direct flights from Tokyo-Narita to Ulaanbaatar and Kaohsiung, and a new nonstop flight to Koror. These new flights will connect in Tokyo to United’s transpacific services to five hub locations in the United States.
In total, next summer United will offer 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations. Here's a sampling:
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
United will be the only U.S. airline to serve Mongolia, with seasonal nonstop service from Tokyo/Narita launching May 1. Nearly half a million people visited Mongolia so far in 2024, up 25 percent compared to 2023, as the country continues to trend as one of the top places to visit in Asia.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Starting July 11, United will offer direct service to Kaohsiung, a city known for its modern urban landscape and historical harbor. United’s new year-round service from Tokyo/Narita will provide an easy one-stop option for American travelers looking to visit the city and complements the airline’s twice-daily, nonstop service between San Francisco-Taipei.
Dakar, Senegal
United’s nonstop Washington/Dulles-Senegal flight will launch on May 23. This year-round, three-times weekly service builds on the airline’s existing service to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Accra and Lagos, and seasonal service to Marrakesh.
Nuuk, Greenland
Travelers will now have direct access to arctic adventure in Greenland via twice weekly seasonal service to its capital city, Nuuk from Newark/New York starting June 14. Nuuk’s new international airport will open next month, and the airline’s new direct flights will make Greenland more accessible than ever for American travelers with a nonstop flight just over four hours long.
Palermo, Italy
United will serve five destinations in Italy beginning May 21 with the launch of its three-times weekly seasonal nonstop service between Newark/New York-Palermo. This new flight builds on United’s existing service to Venice, Naples, Milan and Rome.
Bilbao, Spain
United will be the only U.S. airline with nonstop service to Bilbao, with three-times weekly flights from Newark/New York launching May 31. United serves six destinations in Spain, and is the only carrier to directly connect Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Malaga and Bilbao to the U.S., in addition to its service to Barcelona and Madrid.
Madeira Island and Faro, Portugal
United’s new service to Faro will have four-times weekly flights starting May 16, and Madeira Island will have three-times weekly flights starting June 7. This builds on United’s existing service to Lisbon from Newark/New York and Washington/Dulles.
Expanded Global Service
United will add a year-round, nonstop flight between Tokyo/Narita-Koror, Palau. United is the only U.S. airline to serve Palau, with its existing service from Guam and Manila.
Starting May 22, United will begin seasonal daily nonstop flights to Venice from Washington/Dulles, complementing its existing service from Newark/New York. The airline will also begin seasonal, four-times weekly Washington/Dulles-Nice flights on May 24, in addition to its existing daily seasonal service from Newark/New York.
United will resume service to several destinations earlier in the season to give customers more time to explore next summer. From Newark/New York, United will resume service to Athens on March 6; Venice on March 29 and Dubrovnik, which will also increase to daily service, on May 1. Additionally on May 1, United will resume service between San Francisco-Barcelona and Chicago O’Hare-Athens. The airline will also increase service between Newark/New York and Palma de Mallorca with four weekly flights.
Mexico and Central America Expansion
Starting April 5, United will be the first and only airline to connect the United States to Puerto Escondido with a nonstop once weekly, year-round flight from Houston. With this new flight, United will serve 23 destinations in Mexico, and 65 destinations in the broader Latin and Caribbean region following the recent addition of Dominica service from Newark/New York launching on February 15, 2025.
Starting May 22, United also will add a new daily flight between San Francisco and San José, connecting the Costa Rican capital with all seven of its U.S. hubs.
All new flights are subject to government approval.
For more information, visit www.united.com.
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