United Reveals More Of Its Winter Plan With New Flight Additions

With record highs across the U.S., escaping the cold this winter may be the last thing on your mind.But nevertheless, winter is coming, and United Airlines is getting ready.The airline announced on Friday that it will add about 150 daily flights — mostly from its hubs — to warm-weather destinations across the U.S. and Latin America, starting in November and continuing through March 2022.Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!In total, the airline is adding 137 flights on peak days compared to its 2019 schedule, all heading to winter hotspots. According to United, the added flights include the following domestic additions:From Chicago O’Hare (ORD)San Diego, California (SAN)Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)Destin, Florida (VPS)Key West, Florida (EYW)Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)Panama City, Florida (ECP)Miami, Florida (MIA)Sarasota, Florida (SRQ)Tampa, Florida (TPA)Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)St. Louis, Missouri (STL)Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)From Cleveland, Ohio (CLE)Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL)Fort Myers, FloridaOrlando, Florida (MCO)Tampa, FloridaFrom Denver (DEN)Charleston, South CarolinaFort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Myers, FloridaMiami, FloridaPensacola, Florida (PNS)Sarasota, FloridaTampa, FloridaLas Vegas, NevadaNew Orleans, Louisiana (MSY)Phoenix, ArizonaFrom Houston Intercontinental (IAH):Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Destin, FloridaKey West, FloridaMiami, FloridaOrlando, FloridaPalm Beach, Florida (PBI)Sarasota, FloridaTampa, FloridaFrom New York-Newark (EWR):Charleston, South CarolinaFort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Myers, FloridaKey West, FloridaJacksonville, Florida (JAX)Orlando, FloridaPalm Beach, FloridaSarasota, FloridaTampa, FloridaPhoenix, ArizonaSavannah, Georgia (SAV)From Los Angeles (LAX):Fort Meyers, FloridaOrlando, FloridaTampa, FloridaFrom San Francisco (SFO):Orlando, FloridaFort Myers, FloridaFrom Washington, D.C. (IAD):Charleston, FloridaPanama City, FloridaKey West, FloridaFort Lauderdale, FloridaPalm Beach, FloridaNew Orleans, LouisianaPhoenix, FloridaPensacola, FloridaSan Diego, CaliforniaSavannah, GeorgiaThe airline will also add or increase the following international routes:From Denver:Belize City, Belize (BZE)San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)From New York-Newark:Barbados (BGI) beginning Dec. 5From Washington, D.C.:Barbados (BGI)Aruba (AUA)Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)Turks & Caicos (PLS)From San Francisco:Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) beginning Dec. 5From Los Angeles:Belize City, Belize (BZE)Cozumel, Mexico (CZM)Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)Zihuatanejo, Mexico (ZIH)Manzanillo, Mexico (ZLO)The additions come as U.S. airlines continue to see high demand among domestic and short-haul international travelers for leisure destinations, and as domestic business travel continues to return at a faster clip than expected.“As pandemic restrictions ease, people are becoming more confident in planning travel further in advance, so we want to make sure to offer our customers as much choice as possible,” Ankit Gupta, United’s vice president who oversees its domestic network, said in a statement.Friday’s announcement was the second time in a month that United added to its winter schedule; its last announcement focused on winter sports destinations.Notably, however, long-haul international demand has remained severely depressed, with travel limited to the few countries that have reopened, such as Iceland, France, Greece and Italy.Conspicuously absent from that list: the United Kingdom, despite reports this spring that a travel corridor between the U.S. and U.K. for vaccinated travelers was imminent.More: Delta boosts 10 routes to 5 outdoor-friendly destinations for the winterAlthough airlines have been updating their schedules and adding flights with less lead time than before the pandemic, recent months have seen passengers booking travel further out, airlines have said. The new flights suggest United is eager to capture leisure demand for the winter and is beginning to plan as uncertainty regarding long-haul travel continues.