Greenland, Palermo & More: United Announces 7 New Transatlantic Routes

Star Alliance member United Airlines has announced seven new routes across the Atlantic, e.g. there will be new flights from New York to Greenland or Sicily.

Additionally, United will operate three more routes within Asia, thereby strengthening the small hub in Tokyo-Narita. From Tokyo, flights will go to Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Koror (Palau) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

Seven New Transatlantic Routes

In total, United’s announcement adds eight new destinations to the route network. Of these, five are in Europe, two in Asia, and one in Africa.

Here is an overview of all new transatlantic routes:

• New York EWR – Palermo PMO, from May 21, 2025
• New York EWR – Bilbao BIO, from May 31, 2025
• New York EWR – Madeira FNC, from June 7, 2025
• New York EWR – Nuuk GOH, from June 14, 2025
• Washington D.C. IAD – Venice VCE, from May 22, 2025
• Washington D.C. IAD – Dakar DSS, from May 23, 2025
• Washington D.C. IAD – Nice NCE, from May 24, 2025
• New York EWR – Faro FAO, from May 16, 2025
  (originally planned to start in 2024, so not really “new”)

Except for Dakar, all these destinations will be served seasonally during the summer.

New Medium-Haul Routes from Tokyo

Before the Covid pandemic, United already operated a small base in Tokyo-Narita. The airline still has traffic rights there, which is unusual for a U.S. airline. Since the load factor of flights to/from Guam has recently been below expectations, a few aircraft are being relocated to Tokyo. This was already hinted at during the summer.

The following routes from Tokyo will be launched in 2025:

• Tokyo NRT – Ulaanbaatar UBN, from May 1, 2025
• Tokyo NRT – Kaohsiung KHH, from July 11, 2025
• Tokyo NRT – Koror ROR from summer 2025

The route to Ulaanbaatar will only operate in the summer, while the other two routes will be year-round.

Conclusion

United has surprised us in the past with one or two routes, e.g. United Airlines is the only airline that offers long-haul flights from/to Palma de Mallorca.

Now, a few new routes are being added again. Personally, I find the route to Greenland particularly attractive, though not as exciting as Iqaluit – Nuuk with Air Greenland.

Source: United press release

Translated by Ditmar