United Airlines is planning an international expansion for 2025, with new routes spanning from Senegal to Mongolia and Greenland to Palau. This strategy aims to attract travelers seeking destinations beyond popular cities like Paris, Rome, and Tokyo.
Beginning May 21, United will operate flights three times a week from its Newark, New Jersey hub to Palermo, Sicily. Nonstop flights to Faro in Portugal’s Algarve region will launch on May 16, four days a week. Starting June 7, it will offer three-days-a-week service to Madeira Island, Portugal, and on May 31, United will commence nonstop flights to Bilbao, northern Spain. These services will enhance United’s existing routes to Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
The inaugural flight from Newark to Nuuk, Greenland, is set for June 14. According to Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, seasoned travelers are seeking new experiences beyond traditional destinations like Paris, Rome, and Madrid.
United’s approach to exploring new routes distinguishes it from other U.S. and global airlines that typically focus on conventional additions. This expansion is part of United’s broader strategy to anticipate travel trends and provide diverse options, aiming to serve travelers from various U.S. cities, such as Corpus Christi, Texas, to Cape Town, South Africa.
The airline will introduce daily nonstop service from Washington Dulles International Airport to Dakar, Senegal, starting May 23. Additionally, service between Tokyo’s Narita airport and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, will commence on May 1. United aims to boost service from Tokyo, with plans for year-round nonstop flights to Koror, Palau.
While not all destinations have proven successful, such as the discontinued nonstop flight to Bergen, Norway, in 2023 due to low demand, Quayle emphasizes United’s flexibility in expanding to diverse locations. Offering unique routes is seen as a way to attract more travelers and boost sign-ups for United’s rewards credit cards.
The airline initially planned to begin service to Faro, Portugal, this year, but the launch was delayed due to a Federal Aviation Administration safety review. The review concluded earlier this month without finding any significant safety issues.
United also intends to expand its routes from the West Coast, though specific details were not disclosed.
