United Airlines adds 2,027 flights between Sardinia and Okinawa: what that means for travel today

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• New nonstop services and start dates
• Two routes aimed at business travel
• What United says about demand
• Network growth and seasonality
• Where United sits among U.S. carriers
• Other international changes United flagged

United Airlines announced on Tuesday a sizable expansion of its international schedule for next year, adding routes that range from Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Okinawa, Japan. The carrier said the moves reflect shifting traveler preferences and its strategy to grow international revenue despite rising costs.

New nonstop services and start dates

United outlined several routes that will launch in the spring and early summer, many flying nonstop from its U.S. hubs. Aircraft types and initial departure dates were included in the announcement.

• San Francisco – Okinawa, Japan: begins March 27 on a Boeing 777-200ER
• Newark – Ljubljana, Slovenia: begins May 12 on a Boeing 767-400ER
• Newark – Olbia, Sardinia: begins May 27 on a Boeing 767-300ER
• Newark – Catania, Sicily: begins May 28 on a Boeing 767-300ER
• Newark – Ibiza, Spain: begins May 31 on an Airbus A321XLR
• Newark – Valencia, Spain: begins June 2 on an Airbus A321XLR
• Newark – Marseille, France: begins June 4 on an Airbus A321XLR
• Newark – Terceira, Azores (Portugal): begins June 9 on a Boeing 737 MAX 8

Two routes aimed at business travel

United also announced two routes tailored to corporate demand. Newark to Luxembourg will start April 2 on an A321XLR, and Washington Dulles to Toulouse will begin April 26 on the same aircraft type.

The Toulouse service aligns with Airbus’s presence in the city and the company’s U.S. office in Herndon, Virginia. Luxembourg hosts Amazon’s European headquarters, while Amazon’s second U.S. headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia — factors United cited when describing the business case for these flights.

What United says about demand

Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president for global network planning and alliances, said travelers are increasingly avoiding crowded, large European capitals in favor of smaller or less-visited destinations. “They want to get away from the overcrowded, large European cities,” he said.

Quayle noted customers are booking more open-jaw itineraries — flying into one city and out of another — which supports United’s decision to offer multiple points across Portugal, Italy, Spain and France.

He added the carrier will not cut existing routes to make room for the new services.

Network growth and seasonality

Since 2021, United says it has added 49 destinations, and it is the only U.S. carrier flying nonstop to 32 of those markets. The airline described many of the new routes as extending travel seasons beyond traditional summer months.

“All these new international destinations … have become much longer seasons instead of just flying during the summer,” United CEO Scott Kirby told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau, adding that October has grown into one of the airline’s strongest months.

Where United sits among U.S. carriers

United is currently the second-most profitable U.S. airline, after Delta Air Lines, while operating a broader range of international routes than most U.S. competitors. Delta has signaled plans to compete more aggressively in trans-Pacific markets, having added service this year to destinations including Tokyo-Narita and Manila, and launched a Los Angeles–Hong Kong route in June.

Other international changes United flagged

The airline is expanding or restarting several additional services. New nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Osaka will complement existing San Francisco–Osaka service. United will add Denver–Paris service and resume nonstop flights from San Francisco to Tel Aviv.

Earlier this year, United also said it plans to begin San Francisco–Sapporo service in December, targeting the high-end ski market in Japan.

CNBC’s Michele Luhn contributed to this report.