United Airlines
first flew the Boeing 737
across the Atlantic in 2022. This was when its Newark to Ponta Delgada, Azores, route was launched, which had never been served before. The 737 MAX 8
continues to be used.
Until then, United’s sole narrowbody equipment across the Atlantic was the 757. Despite its aging nature, Cirium Diio data shows it’ll operate 21 times the number of transatlantic flights as the 737 in 2025. Yet, United will deploy the 737 on more than one transatlantic link for the first time.
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United’s record 737 routes
The Star Alliance’s three 737-operated transatlantic services are as follows, two of which are brand-new to its route map. However, some may object to including its new Newark-Nuuk, Greenland, link, which will take off in June.
After all, Greenland—three times the size of Texas and the world’s largest island but with just 57,000 people living there—is part of the continent of North America and may not be considered transatlantic or European. Still, the Danish-dependent territory, which is self-governed and has its own parliament, is geopolitically European, at least for now.
Even if you dismiss it, United will still have two transatlantic routes on the 737, double its prior record.
United to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, will follow the November 28, 2024, launch of Air Greenland’s A330neo service from Nuuk to Copenhagen. Until then, Copenhagen passengers had to connect in Kangerlussuaq or Keflavik.
These developments materialized because of Nuuk’s runway extension to 7,218 feet. However, it remains relatively short, balanced by fairly short sectors and low airport elevation. Nonetheless, it is a critical development for inbound tourism, hence United’s (and SAS’s) coming entry.
Route |
Start date (from the US) |
Details |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Newark-Funchal |
Begins on June 7 |
Three weekly 737 MAX 8 |
Summer seasonal |
Newark-Nuuk |
Begins on June 14 |
Twice-weekly 737-800 |
Summer seasonal. Get tickets here! The aircraft and crew will remain overnight in Greenland, arriving at 18:45 and leaving at 09:00. Given the low frequency, this will avoid a very long, expensive, and unproductive stay, without which the route would not begin |
Newark-Ponta Delgada |
Launched on May 13, 2022, but returns for the summer on June 5 |
Five weekly to daily 737 MAX 8 |
Summer seasonal. See more on this route below |
United: Newark-Ponta Delgada
The US Department of Transportation shows that it has transported 77,000 roundtrip passengers since its May 2022 start. Of course, it is a summer seasonal operation on the 166-seat 737 MAX 8.
While the original operating period from the US was May 13-September 27, 2022, it will be June 5-September 23 this year. It has been roughly this since 2023, with the reduced period theoretically allowing it to benefit from peak demand and fares.
But it might not be quite this simple. The DOT says United filled just 64% of Newark-Ponta Delgada seats in 2024, against 85% for the carrier’s European average. In other words, its Azores service typically had 60 empty seats (out of 166). Ouch.
There’s no indication of how many of its 16 first class seats were filled with revenue-paying passengers.
Assuming the DOT’s numbers are correct, that is obviously poor. Yes, it says nothing about fares, but they are unlikely to have been so high as to offset them. It also does not consider financial incentives, although they tend to be progressively reduced.
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Overcapacity is one problem
Part of the reason seems to be overcapacity. Cirium data shows that Azores Airlines—which operates from Ponta Delgada to New York JFK—has considerably increased the number of seats for sale.
In 2022, it had 36,000 roundtrip seats, which rose to 75,000 a year later and 97,000 in 2024. In 2025, 101,000 are expected to be available, so at least it has been tempered.
Photo: Lukas Wunderlich I Shutterstock
Unlike United, Azores Airlines’ loads rose from 70% in 2022 to 78% in 2024, but it is unclear to what extent this was from lower fares to fill so many additional seats. Indeed, fares usually fall from the excess capacity, potentially leading to a bloodbath.
Of course, the lower fares should help to fill aircraft, but at what cost? This is not required in such markets, and despite recent expansion, the US to the Azores is still a thin market. Moreover, loads will fall unless traffic growth keeps pace with capacity. Just ask United.
While partly balanced by the market’s more stable 2025 offering—but still no cuts from either carrier—it’ll be interesting to see if United returns in 2026.