NEWARK- United Airlines (UA) is set to discontinue flights from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Dakar (DSS) and from Newark (EWR) to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN). Both routes have now disappeared from future schedules, with bookings closed after early March for Dakar and unavailable for all of 2026 for Stockholm.
Early schedule data and booking patterns show why these routes struggled to find long-term stability.
United Suspends Two International Routes
United’s retreat from Dakar and Stockholm reflects natural route churn as the carrier shifts capacity toward stronger leisure and niche markets.
While United is cutting these two transatlantic links, it continues to add unusual points in Europe, including Bari, Santiago de Compostela, and Split in 2026, along with Glasgow’s return, Simple Flying reported.
United to Discontinue Dakar Route
The Dakar route covered 3,481 nautical miles and launched in May 2025 as United’s first entry into Senegal. The airline operated the Boeing 767-300ER with 203 seats and aimed for three weekly year-round flights in 2026.
The final service from Dulles is scheduled for March 4. Early performance was weak. US DOT data for May to July 2025 showed a 65 percent seat load factor, which is low for a long-haul market still in its development phase. A United planner had already suggested the route might not survive a full year.
Competition in Dakar remains active. Delta operates up to five weekly flights from New York JFK on the 767-300ER.
Air Transat plans to begin Montreal service next June with the A321LR. Montreal was United’s second-largest connecting market for Dakar, but it contributed only about six percent of total connecting traffic.
Why United Is Stepping Back From Stockholm
United inherited the Newark to Stockholm route from Continental. The flight covers 3,415 nautical miles and has always operated from the Newark hub, which is United’s busiest gateway for transatlantic routes. SAS continues to serve Stockholm year-round with the A330-300.
Its shift from Star Alliance to SkyTeam could eventually push the carrier toward New York JFK, but JFK slot limits and Delta’s presence make such a move uncertain.
United historically ran Newark to Stockholm on a seasonal basis. The season has been shrinking over time. In 2019, the carrier operated 128 flights between late April and early September. By 2025, that dropped to 88 flights between June and August.
United planned to stretch this slightly in 2026 with daily service from June 4 through September 6. Those flights, operated by the 176-seat Boeing 757-200, have now been removed entirely.
US DOT data for June and July 2025 shows United filled 88 percent of seats on the Stockholm route. The load factor was stable compared with previous years, but overall traffic was much lower because the operating window had narrowed to peak summer only.
Higher seat occupancy did not translate into higher total market volume. If the route ends permanently, United will no longer serve Scandinavia.
Competitive Routes
Several airlines have tried connecting Dakar with the United States. South African Airways ran Johannesburg to Dakar to Dulles between 2006 and 2019.
Air Senegal briefly planned a Dakar to Dulles service via JFK before shifting to Baltimore instead. Neither African carrier currently serves the US.
Stockholm has seen a rotation of long-haul operators. Malaysia Airlines once flew Kuala Lumpur to Newark via Stockholm using 777s and 747s.
In the present day, Scandinavian connectivity from the US is shifting again. American Airlines re-entered the region in 2024 with Philadelphia to Copenhagen after a decade-long absence.
Both route withdrawals point to a broader pattern. Long-haul markets take time to mature, but airlines cannot hold capacity indefinitely when performance lags.
United’s focus on adding new leisure and niche destinations suggests a push for more resilient demand pools. Competitive pressure in both Dakar and Stockholm likely influenced the final decision.
Domestic Routes Network
United Airlines is set to add three seasonal Saturday-only routes in 2025 and 2026 while discontinuing one domestic service. The airline confirmed the changes after they first appeared in a Cirium Diio update.
The new schedule will bring seasonal links from Newark Liberty (EWR) to Kalispell (FCA), Houston (IAH) to Rapid City (RAP), and Los Angeles (LAX) to Montrose (MTJ). At the same time, the carrier will end flights between Greensboro (GSO) and Denver (DEN), AirlineGeeks reported.
United’s Latest Round of Network Adjustments
United Airlines is planning a set of targeted seasonal additions designed to strengthen peak summer connectivity. The first new route launches June 13 from Newark Liberty to Kalispell using a Boeing 737 MAX 8. It will run once weekly on Saturdays throughout the season.
Two more Saturday-only routes follow on May 23, 2026. Houston to Rapid City returns after last operating in August 2024 and will be flown with an Embraer E175.
The same aircraft type will serve the Los Angeles to Montrose route, which has now been extended through the 2026 summer period after previously being scheduled to end in April. These additions reflect United’s strategy of aligning short-haul summer markets with regional demand patterns.
Route Termination and Schedule Rationale
United will end service between Greensboro and Denver, with the final flight set for January 6. The carrier launched the route in 2023 but cited seasonal patterns and market performance as factors behind the decision.
A spokesperson noted that ongoing adjustments are standard practice as the airline evaluates demand across its domestic network. The latest changes indicate a focus on weekend leisure travel during peak months, especially in mountain and outdoor destinations where summer traffic remains strong.
Fleet and Market Implications
The use of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Embraer E175 highlights United’s continued blend of mainline and regional aircraft across its summer portfolio.
The MAX 8 provides added range and capacity for long domestic segments, while the E175 remains a dependable option for niche seasonal markets that benefit from flexible scheduling and smaller gauge aircraft.
Outlook for Summer Operations
These updates suggest United is continuing to refine its domestic footprint around high-demand summer destinations.
By focusing on weekly leisure-driven routes and reassessing underperforming links, the carrier aims to optimize aircraft utilization and meet expected regional travel peaks.
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