United Airlines
and its regional partners are continuing to expand their presence across the US with more additions to their route maps. Though the carrier has trimmed many smaller cities from its network in the past few years, United has reaffirmed its commitment to Portland, Maine through the addition of a nonstop flight.
United’s new route
According to local news source WMTW 8, starting on June 28, 2025, United will connect Portland International Jetport
with its Texas hub at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
. The service, which will be operated exclusively on Saturdays, is a seasonal summer route that aims to capitalize on the heightened demand of leisure travelers looking to visit vacation spots.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
United’s hub in Houston plays a critical role in the airline’s network, connecting passengers to various tropical destinations in Central and South America. By offering this service, the Chicago-based carrier is likely hoping to offer better itineraries for Maine residents planning to travel south.
The route will be flown under the United Express brand, and the actual flight will be operated by Mesa Airlines, one of several regional subsidiaries that United contracts for local flights. The Embraer E175, which seats 76 passengers in a two-class configuration, will be deployed on the route for the season.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shuitterstock
United has two different configurations for the Embraer E175. The first one, which is more premium-heavy, has 12 First Class seats, 32 Economy Plus seats, and 26 standard seats. Meanwhile, the second version features the same number of first-class seats but only 16 Economy Plus seats and 48 standard seats.
According to United, passengers flying in first class on this aircraft can expect 37” of pitch and a seat width of 20”. Economy Plus seats feature 34” of pitch and a width of 18.2”, while standard Economy offers passengers an industry-average 31” of pitch and 18.2” wide seats.
Related
United Airlines To Exit Lewiston, Idaho
The carrier will no longer fly to Denver starting in February 2025.
Portland at a glance
Portland International Jetport is not a major airport, despite being one of the busiest in Maine. In terms of mainline operations, two major carriers dominate the gateway: 
American Airlines
and 
Southwest Airlines
. Each carrier boasts about 17% market share, though American pulls ahead by a few decimals.
Photo: Floridastock | Shutterstock
Portland’s busiest route is to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, a route operated exclusively by Southwest. This is followed by Charlotte Douglas International Airport
, Philadelphia International Airport
, and Reagan National Airport-all of which are East Coast hubs for American Airlines.
United’s mainline operations command only a mere 9% of the Portland market. The airline currently offers service to Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. In May 2025, it will inaugurate service to Denver, its largest hub.
Photo: Denver International Airport
It is worth noting that Republic Airways, another regional subsidiary that flies for American, Delta, and United, holds 15% market share. This exemplifies the popularity regional jets have in a market like Portland, where a smaller population equates to less demand.
Beyond the major airlines mentioned, Portland is also served by several start-ups and low-cost carriers: Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Sun Country Airlines, and (coming soon) Avelo.
United’s network changes
According to an article from The Points Guy, United has cut 41 cities since April 2020. The airline frequently cites lower-than-anticipated demand and the ongoing pilot shortage as reasons for leaving the cities.
Photo: Getty Images
Regardless, United’s network continues to grow, even if it is pulling out of some smaller markets. The airline just recently expanded its portfolio of nonstop routes from its Denver hub. From the Mile High City, it will offer new service to places like Buffalo, New York, Pensacola, Florida, and Redding, California. But perhaps most notably, the airline announced a seasonal nonstop flight to Rome.
Navigating the challenges of such a dynamic industry, United is hoping to deploy its planes to where they will be most profitable. Only time will tell if this will lead to more cuts of smaller cities while the airline shifts its focus to larger markets.