United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the U.S., is making a significant change in its upcoming international flight planning. In the flight schedule released for 2026, the airline quietly removed the Washington Dulles (IAD) – Dakar (DSS) route and the Newark (EWR) – Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) route. Consequently, flights to these two international capitals are closed for reservations after March 2026.
Founded in 1931 and today the largest U.S. carrier by seat miles and fleet size, United is optimizing its international network according to post-pandemic demand trends.
Declining Demand and Unsustainable Long-Term Operations
According to aviation analysis site Simple Flying, which first reported the development, United struggles to achieve the passenger volume required for long-term profitability on both routes.
The IAD–DSS route was planned to start operations in May 2025.
The route targeted the African diaspora in the U.S. and the growing interest in African tourism. United had described Dakar as a “gateway to Africa” in its flight announcement, highlighting that Senegal’s tourism grew by 13% in the first quarter of last year.
However, United’s 2026 flight schedule shows that the route could not reach the expected demand at a sustainable level.
Newark–Stockholm: A Route That Lost Momentum Post-Pandemic
United’s EWR–ARN route has long operated seasonally during the summer months due to high demand. However, passenger numbers have dropped significantly after the pandemic:
While 128 flights were operated in July–August 2019, this number fell to 88 flights in the same period in 2025.
The route was traditionally operated with a Boeing 757-200.
United’s African Network Shrinks
With the removal of the Dakar flight, United Airlines’ direct flight network in Africa will be limited to the following countries:
- South Africa
- Ghana
- Nigeria
- Morocco
- Only Oslo Remains in Scandinavia
United previously operated the San Francisco–Stockholm route. However, starting in 2026, it will not offer direct flights to Sweden from any city. The airline’s only direct flight in Scandinavia will remain the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
