United Airlines cuts 17 domestic routes in latest network shake-up
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Small regional airports continue to bear the brunt of airline pandemic-era network adjustments.
The latest move comes from United Airlines, which is dropping 17 domestic routes — including one U.S. city — from its route map, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by the airline.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!
United will stop serving the following 17 routes, with the full details available in the chart below.
| Origin | Destination | Operating airline | Aircraft |
| Denver (DEN) | Dayton, Ohio (DAY) | SkyWest Airlines | Embraer 175 |
| Newark (EWR) | Oklahoma City (OKC) | Republic Airways | Embraer 170 |
| Newark (EWR) | Omaha (OMA) | Republic Airways | Embraer 170 |
| Newark (EWR) | Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS) | GoJet Airlines | CRJ-550 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Allentown, Pennsylvania (ABE) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Lexington, Kentucky (LEX) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Madison, Wisconsin (MSN) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Oklahoma City (OKC) | Mesa Airlines | Embraer 175 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Pensacola, Florida (PNS) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Houston (IAH) | Alexandria, Louisiana (AEX) | Mix of CommutAir and SkyWest Airlines | Embraer 145 and CRJ-200 |
| Houston (IAH) | Columbia, South Carolina (CAE) | CommutAir | Embraer 145 |
| Houston (IAH) | Akron-Canton, Ohio (CAK) | Mesa Airlines | Embraer 175 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Bismarck, North Dakota (BIS) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Charlottesville, Virginia (CHO) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Jackson, Mississippi (JAN) | Air Wisconsin | CRJ-200 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Pasco-Tri Cities, Washington (PSC) | SkyWest Airlines | Embraer 175 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Redmond, Oregon (RDM) | SkyWest Airlines | Embraer 175 |
The Chicago-based carrier confirmed the cuts to TPG on Sunday afternoon with the following statement:
United makes regular adjustments to its schedule in response to market demand and staffing resources to ensure we can best serve our customers.
Many of the routes getting cut were already suspended during the pandemic, with plans to restart service in those markets this summer. However, with the latest schedule update, they’re now gone from the airline’s timetable and will be cut until further notice.
Interestingly, every route getting cut involves one of the airline’s regional affiliate carriers.
United has taken an aggressive approach to trimming unprofitable routes and paring back service to smaller airports as it rebuilds its network from the pandemic.
Late last year, the airline confirmed that it’s pulling out of 11 small U.S. cities, ceding the traffic to its competitors. This includes airports like Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan (AZO), and Evansville, Indiana (EVV).
With this latest move, United is only pulling out of one city — Alexandria, Louisiana (AEX) on June 2— while it pares back service in the 16 other markets. The airline will continue serving the remaining airports from other hubs.
Many regional airports don’t have the demand to warrant service right now, especially with the staffing shortages that airlines are facing.
In a recent interview with TPG, United CEO Scott Kirby commented on the future of 50-seat regional jets. His perspective was that there may not be a future for serving some small markets due to unfavorable economics compounded by pilot shortages, which recently caused the airline to ground nearly 100 regional jets.
“We’re still debating what the long-term future of 50 seaters really is,” Kirby said. “The challenge is, do you want to serve places like Erie, Pennsylvania, at all, or Cody, Wyoming, or do those places just get cut off of the connectivity to the world?”
In late December, United dropped 14 regional markets from its Washington Dulles (IAD) hub, citing pilot shortages as the reason.
Additional reporting by David Slotnick and Ethan Klapper of TPG.
Featured photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card account anniversary. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 8/31/22.
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.