United Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its international services, adding new routes to eight destinations starting in May 2025. The expansion will include five new nonstop routes from Newark/New York and three new routes from Washington, D.C./Dulles, offering additional travel options for U.S. passengers seeking destinations across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
New Destinations from Newark/New York
Beginning in May 2025, United will introduce nonstop service from Newark/New York to Nuuk, Greenland; Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain; Madeira Island, Portugal; and Faro, Portugal. These routes will provide travelers with access to destinations not currently served directly by other U.S. airlines, including the scenic landscapes of Greenland and the cultural offerings of Sicily and Northern Spain.
Washington D.C./Dulles Expands with New Routes
United is also adding three new routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including year-round service to Dakar, Senegal, as well as seasonal flights to Nice, France, and Venice, Italy. The new service to Dakar will offer direct access to West Africa, while the seasonal flights to Nice and Venice provide additional options for travel to popular European destinations during the summer.
New Routes to Asia and the Pacific
United’s expansion also includes new transpacific routes, such as flights from Tokyo-Narita to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The airline is also introducing a new nonstop flight between Tokyo-Narita and Koror, Palau. These additions aim to provide more travel options for passengers seeking to explore less frequented destinations in Asia.
Additional European Service
The 2025 summer schedule also includes increased frequencies and earlier service start dates for some of United’s existing routes. These adjustments include earlier seasonal service to Venice, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, United will increase its flights between Newark/New York and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, as well as Dubrovnik, Croatia, allowing travelers more flexibility during the peak summer season.
Expanded Service to Mexico and Central America
The expansion extends to Latin America, with new service from Houston to Puerto Escondido, Mexico, starting in April 2025. This route will provide direct access to the coastal destination for travelers from the U.S. Additionally, United will add a daily route between San Francisco and San Jose, Costa Rica, connecting more travelers to Central America.
Overview of the Expansion
United Airlines’ summer 2025 schedule will include over 800 daily flights to 147 international destinations, offering more travel options across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Latin America. These new routes and increased frequencies aim to meet the growing demand for international travel, providing access to a variety of destinations, from urban centers to remote, adventure-friendly locations.
All new routes are subject to government approval, and tickets will be available for purchase on United’s website and app. The announcement is part of United’s broader strategy to expand its global reach and provide travelers with more diverse destination options.
Analysis
United Airlines chose some very interesting routes. I’m curious to see how the route from New York to Nuuk, Greenland performs. Greenland recently went through a modernization of its airports to attract international airlines. So that investment is already showing signs of paying off.
The expansion at Tokyo Narita is also an interesting development. Delta Air Lines once had a hub at Narita and flew many services in Asia under fifth freedom routes. Delta closed the Narita hub many years ago. United interestingly is building a presence there. Time will tell if these routes are successful.
Overall a lot of the routes United announced are unexpected and its interesting to see a US airline take a riskier approach towards expanding its world wide footprint.
