United Airlines adds new route from Washington Dulles hub, expands schedule in November
United Airlines continues to gradually resume flights with its new November schedule, including new service between Washington Dulles and Key West for the winter.
The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will fly nearly half of the U.S. domestic schedule it flew a year ago and 38% of its international schedule in November, United said Thursday. Overall, the airline will fly roughly 44% of what it flew in November 2019 — a four-point increase over October.
The uptick in flights comes even after United furloughed more than 13,000 staff on Oct. 1. The airline shrank its workforce to match historically low levels of air travel during the coronavirus pandemic after Congress failed to extend payroll support for airline workers despite bipartisan support.
Want more airline-specific news? Then sign up for TPG's free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!
United's domestic additions include the first batch of more than 17 routes to Florida from Boston (BOS), Cleveland (CLE), New York LaGuardia (LGA) and other cities that bypass its hubs. In addition, it will add new service between Dulles (IAD) and Key West (EYW) beginning Nov. 1. The Key West route will operate five-days-a-week on an Embraer E170 jet with 70 seats.
The airline will also add or resume flights to popular outdoor destinations in Florida and Hawaii, as well as to Boise (BOI), Palm Springs (PSP) — a desert destination that is seeing a boom in new air service — and Redmond/Bend, Oregon (RDM).
Internationally, United plans to return to Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Santiago, Chile (SCL) and Taipei (TPE) in November. In addition, it will resume several routes, including between its Denver (DEN) and Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) hubs and Frankfurt (FRA).
Related: United Airlines adds 17 routes to Florida, bypassing hubs in pandemic route-map shakeup
And United customers interested in booking flights on three of United's new international routes can do so beginning Saturday (Oct. 3), when tickets go on sale for the Chicago-New Delhi, Bangalore-San Francisco and Newark-Johannesburg nonstops.
Despite United's November resumptions, the outlook for airlines remains uncertain. Business travel is non-existent and thee uptick in holiday flyers that airlines saw over the summer has fallen as it normally does after Labor Day.
New data from travel data firm OAG shows bookings for November — including over the busy Thanksgiving holiday — are at around a quarter of where they were a year ago at this time for American Airlines and United. Bookings at Delta Air Lines are only 12% of 2019 levels.
United CEO Scott Kirby has warned that they airline could cut money-losing destinations from its route map without additional relief and if air travel does not continue to return.
Related: More than 30,000 furloughs begin as 'terrible Thursday' arrives for airlines
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees