United Airlines is trimming two longhaul routes in 2026, quietly ending service to both Dakar and Stockholm as part of a broader network realignment focusing on more leisure destinations.
United Airlines Cuts Dakar And Stockholm Routes For 2026
United Airlines has confirmed it will discontinue service between Washington Dulles and Dakar and will not resume its seasonal Newark to Stockholm route for the summer 2026 season. The news was first reported by Ishrion Aviation:
In response to my inquiry, a United spokesperson said the airline “regularly makes schedule adjustments due to aircraft availability, market dynamics, and other operational factors.” The carrier also advised that affected customers will be offered reaccommodation on partner airlines or refunds.
The decisions reflect shifting demand patterns and United’s evolving transatlantic strategy, which has increasingly favored new leisure-oriented destinations over marginal or underperforming routes.
Washington Dulles To Dakar Ends March 5
United’s service between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Dakar (DSS) will end on March 5, 2026. The route only launched on May 23, 2025, operating three times weekly by a Boeing 767-300. Market data in recent months showed weaker-than-expected performance, with load factors at 65%.
United told Live And Let’s Fly it will work with customers who are booked after March 5 to provide alternative arrangements.
The choice to serve Dakar was ambitious. The West Africa region is underserved from the United States and United hoped that a Washington-based flight would attract government, NGO, and visiting friends and relatives traffic. Despite that, the route appears not to have reached the revenue levels needed to justify continuing service into a second full year.
Delta continues to fly the route from New York (JFK) using a 767-300 and Air Transat plans to launch service next year with an Airbus A321. Air Senegal has suspended service to the United States and South African Airways, which ran a Dulles – Dakar flight for many years, no longer serves the USA.
Newark To Stockholm Will Not Return For Summer 2026
The seasonal Newark (EWR) to Stockholm (ARN) route will not return in 2026. Service originally launched on June 2, 2005, under Continental Airlines and had been a recurring part of United’s summer transatlantic schedule.
United confirmed that customers booked on or after June 4, 2026, will be eligible for reaccommodation or refunds.
The Stockholm route has historically faced strong competition from European carriers and connecting hubs and SAS, now a member of SkyTeam, serves the routes year-round with an Airbus A330-300. With United adding several new leisure destinations in Europe next summer, the return on resuming ARN evidently no longer justified the aircraft assignment, even though it was just a 757-200.
A Network In Motion
Neither route cut is dramatic on its own, but taken together they illustrate how United is adjusting its longhaul footprint. The airline is still growing across the Atlantic, yet it is doing so selectively. Reducing capacity in markets that have not met performance expectations allows United to redeploy aircraft toward destinations with stronger demand or less competition.
As United continues to take new aircraft and refine how it balances business, leisure, and visiting friends and relatives markets, moves like this are likely to continue.
It’s still noteworthy that United could not compete with Delta to Dakar or SAS to Stockholm in a way that made the (soon-to-be-cancelled) routes make sense.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines will wind down its Washington to Dakar route on March 5, 2026, and will not resume Newark to Stockholm service for the summer 2026 season. Both decisions reflect routine but noteworthy adjustments to United’s longhaul network as the carrier focuses on stronger yielding and more strategically aligned destinations. Affected customers are eligible for reaccommodation on partners or refunds.
Let’s add that SAS’s change of alliance (from Star Alliance to SkyTeam) could explain why United Airlines appears to be abandoning the ARN route from Newark. This will also mark United Airlines’ definitive withdrawal from Scandinavia.
Air Canada maintains Toronto-Stockholm route next summer, despite SAS joining Skyteam. I wonder if UAL would return Newark-Stockholm route when UAL receives adequate A321-XLR planes in summer 2027.
As one may recall, the company dynamics are different. However, if all 50 A321XLR jetliners join the UA fleet by 2027, there could be many changes to route planning.
Tim Dunn! Wins for Delta! DDS and ARN only served by one US carrier following UA’s abdication! Huzzah!
the incredible part is that DL serve both ARN and DSS with 767-300ERs which the internet is convinced are the worst widebodies on the planet.
It speaks very poorly of UA that DL can push UA out of major markets using what is perceived as DL’s weakest planes.
it also says that Scandinavian’s strategy of serving both NYC int’l airports ensures that there is no space for UA. Scandinavia is not a large market but is larger than GVA which is the only market in Europe that DL walked away from this year.
and DL and UA are both not growing their TATL capacity for summer 2026 based on current schedules; they are both just rearranging where they fly.
Based on DL’s statements but not supported by published schedules, DL’s TATL capacity for 4Q2026 and beyond will grow with its new flights to Riyadh and India, both of which are TATL and generate large numbers of ASMs even if “only” on the 359 before the 35Ks arrive, supposedly in late 2026 or 2027
Lol calls Dakar and Stockholm major markets, yet United pushed Delta out of Brussels and Geneva… I know which pair of cities I’d call more major…
Andy,
first, BRU and GVA are smaller travel markets combined than Scandinavia. You are free to call any markets you want major or minor but facts are what matters.
Scandinavia is a larger market.
second, DL still serves BRU seasonally. GVA is the only market that DL withdrew from.
1990,
I have never said that DL’s 767-300ERs have a class-leading product. I have ACCURATELY said that DL knows how to use them where they make sense to do so and to use DL’s far nicer planes such as the A350 in markets where their far nicer cabins matter.
and DL only served ARN and DSS with 767-300ERs which shows that those planes could very effectively compete with “far better” UA products in some people’s minds.
the simple fact is that far too few people get wrapped around product quality as being a determinant of success when far bigger factors exist.
GVA and BRU are Star JV hubs.
neither ARN or DSS are hubs for DL or SkyTeam JV partners.
At least you acknowledged “DL’s weakest planes” which, sure 763 and 332 are, but also, (not on these routes, but still) don’t forget the CRJs and 717s… yikes. Time for more new a350s, a339s, a220s.
We should also mention that it’s not easy for people in Africa to get visas to come to the USA these days. Also, our current government seems more focused on war with Venezuela than doing any type of engagement with Africa. We are focused on bringing White people from the continent to the USA. Another reminder of the peculiar time we are in.
Agreed. Horrible (likely illegal) foreign policy. Good luck convincing the ‘America First’ dumb-dumbs, who are cheering for $20-40 billion bailout for ideological allies and Wall St by way of Argentina. Meanwhile, we’ve abdicated our ‘soft power’ not only in Africa, but around the world; a major win for China. *facepalm*
How profitable and high yield is Scandinavia considered to be? United didn’t seem to care much about SAS and now they are dropping ARN so that leaves me to believe that it’s not a high yield market to begin with or even close to it.
What’s the difference between you (Justsaying) and occasional commenter on this and other blogs ‘OtherJustSaying’? Like, do you guys know each other?