United Airlines will announce new routes tomorrow and has offered us some clues via a short video. Here are my guesses.
My Predictions For New United Airlines Routes
United will announce new routes tomorrow…and I’d guess longhaul routes because I don’t think we’d see the video below for new domestic routes. The video is not as detailed as in years past, but shows a globe that comes to a stop on Asia and the Pacific. There are dots on all the routes United currently serves.
The video ends with teasing that new routes drops tomorrow at 8:00 am ET and shows three dots, suggesting three new routes.
It may be April 1, but this isn’t a joke. New routes incoming. Tomorrow. 8 a.m. ET.
Drop your guesses below. ⬇ pic.twitter.com/Td8A0kCovD
— United Airlines (@united) April 1, 2025
Since these are dots and not lines, I am going to guess that United will announce new destinations, not just new routes (like, for example, the resumption of Los Angeles to Singapore).
I’ve predicted (incorrectly) for years that we will see Bangkok (BKK) launch, but I think that will happen this year…from San Francisco (SFO)…on the heels of another year of successful nonstop flights on Air Canada from Vancouver (YVR).
I’d wager a guess that most of us have been enjoying Season 3 of White Lotus and that HBO series alone will spur at least some demand. Will United finally add flights to Bangkok?
Other guesses:
- Guam (GUM) – Could United support a nonstop flight from San Francisco to Guam? (I know that’s not a new dot)
- Perth (PER) – There is not (currently) an airplane that can fly from Perth to Los Angeles or San Francisco nonstop, but what about flying via Guam (GUM)?
- Fiji (NAN) – Continental once served Fiji from Honolulu (HNL)…it would be nice to see this return nonstop from San Francisco
- Chongqing (CKG) – This sprawling municipality has 32 million residents
Other possibilities in Asia include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Kuala Lumpur, but I question whether there would be adequate demand to fly to any of these destinations.
If United is focusing on Asia-Pacific, I also think that is wise because I predict we will see falling demand from Europe over disagreements over foreign policy and economic policy. Meanwhile, United continues to take delivery of new aircraft which suggests we will continue to see more new dots on the route map.
I’ll provide an update tomorrow morning once we find out what the new routes are.
What are your predictions for the new United routes?
@ Matthew — My money is on SFO-BKK, which would be awesome! I wonder how that new route between EWR and GOH is working out? Since we are going to become much closer “friends” with Greenland, maybe UA should add IAD-GOH for the all the diplomatic travel between the two countries?
It looks like two separate dots for NRT and HND
Yeah, I don’t think you will become “closer friends” with Greenland. Learn to read the room.
I think it was a joke…
My curious eyes see 3 dots on Japan’s map (2 of which are currently being served – KIX & NRT/HND) so it looks like one of these new routes would be SFO-NGO) . I’m guessing the other two would be ORD-ICN &/or LAX-ICN. No dots on BKK, CKG OR HAN so they’re not likely to happen this soon.
It looks like two separate dots for NRT and HND
UA already flies to NGO from GUM which is why there are 3 dots in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya)
I think BKK, NAN, and CKG are great guesses. With the new FJ flight to DFW and OW membership, Fiji is about to get slammed with Americans, it seems. Chongqing is really having a moment lately. I’m dying to go.
Perth is ultimately a very small city, and can be served with one stop efficiently from anywhere in APAC, I just don’t think there’s nearly enough demand from the US to get there.
SFO-GUM, man that sure would be cool! If a mainland-GUM flight happens, I’m going to call IAH. I think a lot of the demand there is MIL and people on the west coast can efficiently connect over HNL.
I know KUL comes up a lot, but who is going there? I love KL, but without Air Asia I don’t think I’d have been there nearly as much in my life. KUL is kind of like Asian ATL. Huge flight hub, but it’s a city that is very relevant regionally, but not very relevant outside of SEA and Islamic banking.
I don’t think that’s a very educated guess. Should KUL be only relevant in SEA would mean the copious amount of flights China is mounting there would be empty yet they can’t stop adding. Besides that BA is making a return despite KUL LHR being already served twice daily. Like BKK, KUL is a leisure strong market, but I believe they are the fastest growing amongst the oversaturation of Bangkok and Singapore in the region. If only they can have sustainable policies.
Well I’m not educated about it at all I’m just speculating. China demand doesn’t equate to ultra long haul flights from the US. As for LHR, surely that’s driven by the fact that KUL and LHR are OW hubs and Malaysians don’t need visas for the UK and Europe.
Maybe GUM-KUL might make sense. Guam has a visa waiver for Malaysians, and Guam as a whole caters to Asian tourists. But the mainland US. I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just can’t think of what would drive that demand.
I’m guessing SFO-BKK, too, and perhaps SFO-SGN.
Perth to Guam is imo even wilder than NRT-ULR Mongolia . Never in current conditions
Someone got it right but it’s not 100% right…
Also adding flight to somewhere in Asia and a third destination-long long haul…..no one will get it.
Seems pretty obvious that Adelaide in south Australia will be one
How much is travel from Australia and nz down to the USA since the start of the year?
Seems to be pretty dismal from what I am hearing. There has been talk of fares ex Australia for $399 r/t to try and get people in seats (via Nadi). By next year the U.S. will rank alongside Haiti and Sudan as a destination for Intl travelers.
Yeah, does not seem high at all on the leisure list for Aussies right now.
I’d say BKK, SGN, and KUL. CGK would be great but if Indonesia was in the cards I’d say DPS would generate more interest although probably lower revenue.
You got two of the destinations but it’s not what it seems 100%. There is a small twist with the new destinations. One new destination has not been mentioned AT ALL.
Clue? 🙂
I guess UA will deploy Boeing 737 Max 8 to UA hub at Guam, then fly to South East Asia and Northern Australia destinations. Also, new non-stop flights from Guam to LAX and SFO.
United was awarded five new gates in ORD for Fall 2025. Of the three being announced, I bet two of them will be new long haul service from ORD. Could one of them be ORD-AKL-ORD? Could be that they plan to take the route from their codeshare with NZ as NZ hasn’t resumed service due to ongoing availability of aircraft/engine issues.
Forget Asia. I want LAX to IBZ
Perth to Guam. LOL.
Would love to see more flights to mid size cities in Europe like Edinburgh.
Australia to Guam. Continental flew Cairns to Guam 737 pre covid and Sydney to Guam with DC 10 in 90s
RMQ Taichung Taiwan to SFO via NRT
CRK Clark to NRT
IICR, USA was granted fifth freedom rights to fly from beyond HKG to 5 Southeast Asian cities in the late 90s but in exchange surrendered its own rights to fly between HKG-DEL (operated by UA). I’m guessing UA might use some of these dormant rights to fly from HKG to either KUL, CGK, DPS or SGN (resumption) ? …fingers crossed, I’m still betting it would be SFO-BKK & ORD-ICN