United Airlines
has been making headlines for its bold, new international routes. However, the Chicago-based carrier has also recently made route network changes in domestic markets. The carrier’s hubs in the Northeastern United States are the most recent cities to see cuts and schedule additions.
The new changes have resulted in three major cuts at United’s hub at Newark Liberty International Airport
. Meanwhile, Washington Dulles International Airport
will see additional capacity on some routes. Through these decisions, United is likely trying to better optimize its offerings at Newark, a notoriously congested and slot-restricted airport.
Newark Service Shifts
According to independent aviation blog Ishrion Aviation, United will cut three routes from its Newark hub this spring: Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and Albany International Airport. While these cuts will slightly shrink United’s Newark footprint, some additional services from its Washington, D.C. hub will help compensate for the reduced capacity.
Photo: On The Run Photo I Shutterstock.
Newark to Providence services will end on March 29, 2025. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics and data supplier, United will operate 58 flights each way on the route in March. The flight is operated exclusively by the CRJ550, a modified CRJ700 that seats fewer passengers in a more premium layout. 5,800 seats are available in total, which equates to 2,900 seats available each direction.
On March 30, 2025, United will launch a fourth daily flight from Providence to Washington Dulles. Unlike Newark, this service will initially be operated by a mix of aircraft, including the CRJ550, Embraer E175, and E145. With the additional capacity, United will offer 10,240 seats across 204 flights that month. In April 2025, the number will increase to 240 flights, and the service will be exclusively operated by the CRJ550.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
Beyond Providence, United is also cutting service from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport on March 29, 2025. That month, the carrier has 58 flights scheduled with the CRJ550, amounting to 2,900 available seats each way.
In April 2025, the first full month of Washington Dulles service, 60 flights will be operated in each direction, amounting to two daily flights and 120 monthly frequencies.
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Newark to Albany Cut
United is also ending service from Newark to Albany, New York. As of March 2025, the last month the route is offered, United will fly a mix of CRJ550 and Embraer E170 aircraft on 116 total frequencies (58 each way).
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
The service will be suspended on March 29, 2025. United still flies to Albany from Washington Dulles at least three times daily. However, as of now, the carrier has made no additions to its schedule to compensate for the cut Newark flights.
Challenges to United’s Newark Hub
United’s Newark hub plays a vital role in the network. It gives United access to a major domestic and international market (New York City) and also serves as the airline’s primary gateway to Europe. Despite this, the airport is infamously restricted due to space limits and high traffic numbers.
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
As a result, United has to be intentional about which routes it adds to the New Jersey airport. To combat the restrictive flight limits, United has been tweaking its network through cuts like these and upgauging some routes to larger aircraft.