United Expands Winter Schedule and Adds Flights to Cities Like Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Las Vegas

Rhea-AI Summary

United Airlines (NYSE:UAL) has announced a significant winter schedule expansion starting January 6, 2026. The airline is adding flights to 15 cities, including popular destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Las Vegas.

The expansion includes new daily roundtrip flights from multiple hubs including Houston, Chicago, Newark/New York, and Los Angeles. United is also launching new routes connecting Newark to Columbia, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tennessee, plus additional weekly flights to Central American destinations from Houston.

Following this expansion, United will operate 45 daily flights to Orlando, 30 to Fort Lauderdale, and 43 to Las Vegas. The airline cited potential disruption from Spirit Airlines as motivation for the expansion.

Positive

• Strategic expansion to 15 key destinations including popular leisure markets
• Addition of new international routes to Central America from Houston hub
• Proactive market positioning to capture potential Spirit Airlines customers
• Deployment of larger aircraft on key routes to increase capacity

Negative

• Increased operational costs from expanded route network
• Higher exposure to leisure travel market which typically has lower profit margins

News Market Reaction

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-0.10% News Effect

On the day this news was published, UAL declined 0.10%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Schedule expansion also includes new routes from Newark/New York to Columbia, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tenn. and added flights from Houston to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador

Flights start January 6, 2026 and tickets go on sale later today

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United today expanded its winter schedule, adding flights to 15 cities including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Las Vegas. These new flights start January 6 and include:

• One additional daily roundtrip flight between:
  • Houston and Orlando, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore and Miami
  • Chicago and Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans and Las Vegas
  • Newark/New York and Orlando and Fort Lauderdale
  • Los Angeles and Las Vegas
• Two new routes between Newark/New York and Columbia, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Three new weekly flights between Houston and Guatemala City, Guatemala and San Salvador, El Salvador, and one new weekly flight between Houston and San Pedro Sula, Honduras

United is also adding extra flights between Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles and will fly larger aircraft between Chicago and New York LaGuardia to help customers outside of United's hubs connect to these added flights. Tickets will go on sale later today.

"If Spirit suddenly goes out of business it will be incredibly disruptive, so we're adding these flights to give their customers other options if they want or need them," said Patrick Quayle, United's senior vice president of Global Network Planning and Alliances.

United is the largest airline in the world, connecting passengers to more than 360 destinations – including 75 that no other U.S. airline serves. United flies to more than 225 U.S. cities and operates more than 4,000 domestic flights a day on average. With this schedule expansion, United will offer 45 flights per day to Orlando, 30 to Fort Lauderdale and 43 to Las Vegas.

For more information about United's route network and to buy tickets for these new flights, visit United.com.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL". 

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SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

When will United Airlines (UAL) start its new winter schedule flights in 2026?

United Airlines will begin its new winter schedule flights on January 6, 2026, with tickets going on sale September 4, 2025.

How many daily flights will United Airlines operate to Orlando after the expansion?

Following the expansion, United Airlines will operate 45 daily flights to Orlando, along with 30 to Fort Lauderdale and 43 to Las Vegas.

What new international routes is United Airlines adding from Houston?

United is adding three new weekly flights to Guatemala City and San Salvador, plus one new weekly flight to San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Why is United Airlines expanding its winter schedule for 2026?

United is expanding its schedule primarily to provide alternative options for Spirit Airlines customers in case of potential business disruption, according to Patrick Quayle, United's senior VP of Global Network Planning.

What new domestic routes is United Airlines adding from Newark?

United is adding new routes from Newark to Columbia, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with additional flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.