United Airlines Expands North American Network with 14 New Routes in 2026 (2026)

United Airlines is gearing up for a significant expansion of its North American network in the summer of 2026, with plans to launch a total of **14 new routes!** This news, published by AeroRoutes on January 19, 2026, at 1700 PST (or 0100 GMT on January 20, 2026), promises exciting new travel options for passengers across the continent. Let's dive into the details of these additions, shall we?

Here's a breakdown of the planned routes:

• Chicago O'Hare to Cody: Starting May 22, 2026, and running weekly until September 19, 2026, this route will be serviced by an Embraer E175 aircraft, operated by Skywest. It's worth noting that United last served this route back in September 2021.
• Denver to Albany, NY: Beginning April 30, 2026, this route will offer daily service with a 737-800.
• Denver to Bangor: From June 27, 2026, to September 5, 2026, a weekly 737-800 flight will connect these two cities.
• Denver to Chattanooga: Starting May 23, 2026, and operating weekly until August 8, 2026, this route will be flown by an Embraer E175 (Skywest).
• Houston to Burlington, VT: Starting May 23, 2026, and running weekly until August 8, 2026, this route will be serviced by an Embraer E175 (Mesa Airlines).
• Houston to Hartford: Daily 737-800 flights will commence on May 21, 2026. United previously served this route until September 2022.
• Houston to Spokane: A weekly A319 flight will connect these cities from May 23, 2026, to August 8, 2026.
• Los Angeles to Columbus, OH: Daily 737-800 flights will begin on March 29, 2026.
• Los Angeles to Kansas City: Starting April 6, 2026, daily service will be provided by an Embraer E175 (Skywest). This route hasn't been served since January 1991!
• Los Angeles to Pittsburgh: Daily 737-800 flights will begin on March 29, 2026. Initially, this route will be serviced by a 737 MAX 9. From May 21, 2026, a 737-800 will take over. United last offered this route until August 2014.
• Los Angeles to Portland, ME: A weekly 737 MAX 8 flight will operate from June 27, 2026, to September 19, 2026.
• San Francisco to Portland, ME: Similar to the above, a weekly 737 MAX 8 flight will operate between these cities from June 27, 2026, to September 19, 2026.
• Washington Dulles to Halifax: Starting May 23, 2026, and running weekly until August 19, 2026, this route will be serviced by an Embraer E175 (Republic Airways). United last served this route until September 2014.
• Washington Dulles to Quebec City: From May 23, 2026, to October 24, 2026, a weekly Embraer E175 (Republic Airways) flight will connect these cities. This route was last served until November 2013.

Previously Announced Routes:

Beyond these new routes, United has also previously announced the following additions:

• Chicago O'Hare to Clarksburg: Starting April 14, 2026, with 3 weekly CRJ200 flights (increasing to daily from April 30, 2026; Skywest). This route was last served until November 2022.
• Chicago O'Hare to Eugene: Daily 737 MAX 8 flights will begin on April 30, 2026. United last served this route until March 2025.
• Chicago O'Hare to Idaho Falls: A weekly Embraer E175 (Skywest) flight will begin on May 23, 2026.
• Chicago O'Hare to Kearney: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will commence on April 30, 2026. This route was last served until October 2022.
• Chicago O'Hare to Lynchburg: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 24, 2026.
• Chicago O'Hare to Marquette: 3 daily CRJ550 flights (Skywest) will begin on May 21, 2026. United last served Chicago from this route until February 1999, with a nonstop sector offered in 1992 and 1993.
• Chicago O'Hare to Monterey: A weekly 737 MAX 8 flight will begin on May 23, 2026.
• Chicago O'Hare to Rochester, MN: 3 daily CRJ550 flights (Skywest) will begin on April 30, 2026. This route was last served until September 2021.
• Chicago O'Hare to St. George: A weekly Embraer E175 (Skywest) flight will begin on May 23, 2026.
• Chicago O'Hare to Santa Barbara: Daily 737 MAX 8 flights will begin on April 6, 2026. United last served this route in the summer of 2022.
• Chicago O'Hare to Wausau: 3 daily CRJ550 flights (Skywest) will begin on May 21, 2026. This route was last served until January 2022.
• Denver to Abilene: 2 daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 17, 2026.
• Denver to Carlsbad: 2 daily Embraer E175 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 30, 2026.
• Houston to Abilene: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 17, 2026.
• Houston to Alexandria: 2 daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on May 21, 2026. This route was last served until June 2022.
• Houston to Chattanooga: 2 daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 29, 2026. This route was last served until December 2021.
• Houston to Montgomery: 2 daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 29, 2026. This route was last served until September 2021.
• Houston to Natchez: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on July 1, 2026.
• Los Angeles to Missoula: Daily Embraer E175 flights (Skywest) will begin on May 21, 2026. This route was last served until August 2019.
• Newark to Kalispell: A weekly 737 MAX 8 flight will operate from June 13, 2026, to September 5, 2026.
• San Francisco to Carlsbad: 2 daily Embraer E175 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 30, 2026.
• Washington Dulles to Clarksburg: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on April 14, 2026. This route was last served until July 2022.
• Washington Dulles to Lynchburg: Daily CRJ200 flights (Skywest) will begin on March 24, 2026. This route was last served until late-2001.

A Note on the Source: This information comes from AeroRoutes, a source owned and run by Jim Liu, who previously launched and managed Airlineroute from 2007 to 2020.

So, what do you think of United's expansion plans? Are there any routes that particularly excite you? Which destinations do you think will be most popular? Share your thoughts in the comments below – I'm eager to hear your opinions!