United Airlines will reach 750 flights per day this summer from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), marking the largest schedule ever flown by an airline at ORD. Throughout 2026, Chicago's hometown airline will offer nonstop service to 222 destinations –38 more than its next largest competitor and includes 47 international cities across Europe, Asia and South America. Starting from April, and on sale from today, the airline is strengthening connectivity across the Midwest with five new routes from ORD to Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, Kalamazoo, MI, Lansing, MI, La Crosse, WI and Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. In addition to enhancing connections between O’Hare and small and midsized communities, more than 80 cities will receive additional flights like Boston, Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas. United's Chicago hub is expected to become the third largest hub operated by any airline in the U.S. "This growth at O'Hare highlights our commitment to invest in our network, customers and hiring in the city we call home," said United's airport VP, Omar Idris. United will also operate to Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) daily from June 8 to June 27, providing service for large international soccer games. With this add, United will have non-stop service from Chicago to all 16 cities hosting large international soccer games in 2026. United plans to hire another 2,500 people at Chigo O;Hare before the end of the year. It currently has a Chicago-based workforce of more than 18,000 employees. Customers have access to five United Club locations at the airport, in addition to a redesigned United Polaris lounge.

United Airlines is bringing forward its Israel flight return. It will restart flights on July 21, which is 10 days earlier than previously announced. It will kick off with one daily flight from Newark to Tel Aviv. The following day it will add a second daily flight. “This reflects United’s longstanding commitment to the Israeli market. Through 2025, United operated more flights to Tel Aviv than any other US airline,” United said. Ticket sales for flights are now open. Along with most airlines, flights were suspended last month during the Israel-Israel conflict. It left many travelers stranded in Israel, who had to wait for rescue flights. “The decision by United to operate flights to Tel Aviv is made after a thorough assessment of operational considerations in the region, and in close coordination with our flight attendants and pilot unions,” United added. This week the European Aviation Safety Agency eased flight restrictions which will see airlines such as Lufthansa resume Israel flights in early August.  

United Airlines is tightening up check in times for passengers on domestic flights. Starting next month, traveklers must check in no later than 45 minutes before departure, even for those with no checked bags. Currently the cut off time is 30 minutes. The new policy begins on June 3. "The change brings greater consistency for our customers by aligning with our current checked baggage deadline and the check-in policies followed by most other airlines," United said. "If you don’t meet your check-in time limits, we’ll do our best to find another option. However, we have the right to deny service which may result in cancellation of your reservation, denied boarding or the option to check your bags." The cut off time for international flights is 60 minutes.

United Airlines has made a stratgic investment in blended wing body (BWB) aircraft start-up JetZero.  The investment includes a potential 100 airplanes and an option for an additional 100. The conditional purchase agreement is based on JetZero achieving development milestones, including flight of a full-scale demonstrator in 2027. It is also contingent on the aircraft meeting United's safety, business and operating requirements. JetZero's design reduces drag and produces lift across the entire wingspan, which could lead to as much as 50% reduction in fuel burn per passenger mile compared to a similar sized aircraft. The technology could potentially help United lower its carbon emissions while reducing the cost of operations. In 2023, the U.S. Air Force announced a $235 million contract to JetZero to fast-track the development of JetZero's full scale demonstrator. The JetZero Z4 plane is designed to accommodate 250 passengers and fly on conventional jet fuel, with propulsion systems able to utilize sustainable aviation fuel blends. "If successful, JetZero has the potential to evolve our core mainline business by developing aircraft with a bigger, more comfortable cabin experience for our customers while increasing fuel efficiency," said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures (UAV). "United's investment signals the industry's belief that new, innovative technology is needed in order to achieve the efficiency and cost savings that will be required to meet the continued growth in demand for air travel," said Tom O'Leary, CEO and co-founder of JetZero. Both the airplane's design contributes to a more efficient operation due to its shape and the higher altitude at which it will fly, the company says. The aircraft design has the potential to also offer improvements to the passenger experience like flexible seating options, larger seats across all classes and dedicated overhead bin space for each seat. Additionally, the design can streamline the boarding process with a main boarding door that is wider than that of a comparably sized aircraft, leading to multiple aisles and passenger cabin bays for more efficient passenger distribution.  

United Airlines has got FAA approval for the first Starlink-equipped aircraft type to fly commercially. Starlink equipped flights are planned to begin in May, after the FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Embraer 175. The airline expects the first commercial flight to be onboard a United Express Embraer 175 as United's roll-out of the new technology continues. It expects to complete around 40 regional jet installs monthly and the entire two-cabin regional fleet – more than 300 planes – will be completed by end of the year. United will run a beta test of the new technology on select flights between now and the first customer flight in May to assess service quality. "We're working closely with Starlink and the FAA to finish installs on our regional fleet this year and bring the best inflight experience in the sky,” said Grant Milstead, United's VP of Digital Technology. United will work with Starlink to secure an FAA STC to install Starlink on every United aircraft type. According to the FAA, the process to secure approval can include design, installation, testing and submitting the package for FAA approval. The Starlink system allows for a faster and simpler install, and is more reliable and weather-proofed. Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and allows for streaming services, shopping, gaming and more, thanks to Wi-Fi speeds up to 250 megabits per second.

United has rolled out its first Starlink connected regional aircraft. It unveiled details of the process to bring connectivity to its entire regional fleet. The airline expects to outfit 40+ regional aircraft each month beginning in May through the end of 2025. The average Starlink install time is about eight hours, excluding any de-installation of existing equipment, testing or aircraft modification. It says this is about 10 times faster than installing non-Starlink equipment. Earlier this year, the airline said it plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of the year. Eventually, United will add Starlink to its entire fleet. "Our ability to roll-out this innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale is a direct result of the advanced equipment, and team of experts at United," said United's VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead. "Starlink has been a terrific partner – our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year." United is taking each plane out of service for just four days to de-install existing equipment, install Starlink, run tests and close-up the aircraft parts opened during the install, versus an average 10+ days for other inflight providers. Starlink's light 85-pound equipment requires less fuel to operate and offers a more reliable service, switching between Starlink's low-earth orbit constellation of satellites to ensure the best coverage. Customers onboard Starlink-equipped regional aircraft can expect Wi-Fi speeds up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), which is about 50 times faster than current regional aircraft speeds. Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers Customers can sign up at united.com/starlink

United Airlines’ UAV Sustainable Flight Fund has made a key investment in direct air capture (DAC) company Heirloom. The Fund entered into an agreement for the right to purchase up to 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to be delivered for the production of sustainable aviation fuel or permanently stored underground. Heirloom accelerates the natural power of limestone to capture CO2 directly from the air making it one of the lowest cost pathways for removing carbon dioxide. "Carbon capture is one of our country's fastest growing, energy enabling pathways," said Andrew Chang, head of United Airlines Ventures. "At UAV, our primary focus is finding solutions for decarbonization that are profitable. Heirloom's technology aligns directly with this objective, offering a scalable and commercially viable approach." Heirloom marks United's third carbon capture investment but the first in a company commercializing direct air capture technology. DAC is one of two main forms of carbon capture use and storage, along with point source capture. Unlike point source capture which captures CO₂ from a specific emitting source, like a power plant, DAC removes atmospheric CO₂. The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund is United’s investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel.  

United Airlines is all set to restart Israel flights from New York/Newark next month. The Tel Aviv service resumes on March 15, with a second daily flight planned to begin March 29. This resumption follows a detailed assessment of operational considerations for the region and close work with the unions who represent flight attendants and pilots, United said. The Israel flights will be operated on Boeing 787-10s. The restart will make United the first US airline to resume Israel flights this year. United also offers connections to Tel Aviv through partners including Lufthansa Group airlines. United says it will evaluate opportunities to restore additional Israel flights based on demand.

United Airlines flew more people than ever before: a record 180 million customers. The airline also operated more flights with and an average of 4,340 a day. United said it also achieved the second-best on-time performance nationally among the eight largest US airlines. It had three of its best on-time months ever in February, September and October, United said. The 180 million people it carried in 2024 is the most ever and flew 16 million customers in December alone. During the holidays United said it carried a record 539,000 people per day on average.  

United Airlines has given an update on its Starlink installation timeline The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink next month with the first commercial flight anticipated to take off this spring on a United Embraer E-175 aircraft. United now plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of this year and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of this year. United plans to add Starlink to its entire fleet. Access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and includes inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. Membership to MileagePlus is also free and people can sign-up now at united.com/starlink. "We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can is at the center of it all," said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. "It's not only going to revolutionize the flying experience but it's also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members." Last September, United signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet.

The body of a suspected stowaway was discovered when a United Airlines flight landed in Hawaii. The body was discovered inside the wheel well of the plane after it landed at Kahului Airport Maui. It was found on Christmas Eve. It is unclear how and where the person got access to the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. The flight had arrived from Chicago, United Airlines said in a statement. Maui Police said it is ‘actively investigating’ the incident ‘regarding a deceased individual discovered on an incoming flight from the mainland.’ “Upon arrival at Kahului airport, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft,” an airline spokesperson said. The aircraft was taken out of service and the return journey was canceled.

United Airlines today announced it will introduce the first-ever nonstop flights linking between Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and the Mile High City. Flights from United’s hub at Denver International Airport, start 2 May 2025. United will be the only airline operating a nonstop service between Rome and Denver and will offer over 16% more seats from Rome during the summer peak 2025. It represents seven daily flights to the US from Rome. The new seasonal service between Rome and Denver builds on United’s existing services from Italy including year-round daily services from Rome and Milan to New York/Newark, nearly year-round services from Rome to Washington Dulles, as well as seasonal flights from Rome to Chicago O’Hare and San Francisco. It also offers Milan to Chicago O’Hare, Naples to New York/Newark and Venice to New York/Newark, which will start three weeks earlier for summer 2025. The airline is also launching new seasonal routes from Venice to Washington D.C., starting 23 May 2025 and from Palermo to New York/Newark, starting 22 May 2025. United will operate up to 14 nonstop services per day from Italy to the US for summer 2025. “We are excited to announce the first-ever nonstop service between Rome and Denver, further expanding our route network from Italy to the US,” said Marcel Fuchs, MD of International Sales, United Airlines. “For summer 2025, our customers in Rome can enjoy even greater travel choice and the possibility to connect seamlessly via our hubs.” "With the entry of Colorado in the map of U.S. states directly served, in 2025 Fiumicino will have the largest-ever schedule to North America," said Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer di Aeroporti di Roma. The new route from Rome to Denver is part of United’s largest international expansion in its history, adding six new destinations and nine new routes across the Atlantic next summer. Starting in May 2025, United will launch five new flights from its hub in New York/Newark to destinations no other U.S. airline serves, including Nuuk, Greenland; Bilbao, Spain; and Madeira and Faro, Portugal. The airline is also adding three new routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including its first-ever flight to Dakar, Senegal operating year-round and new seasonal flights to Nice, France and Venice, Italy.