NEWARK, N.J., February 15, 2026, 01:33 (EST)
- United has pulled the plug on its Newark–Stockholm route and is scaling back several other European flights for summer 2026, aviation sites tracking filings show.
- Glasgow Airport said the Glasgow–Newark seasonal route will now continue through late October, and it’s offering more seats than initially announced.
- Cirium data, quoted by a travel publication, points to transatlantic bookings for summer 2026 lagging behind last year’s numbers.
United Airlines is scaling back parts of its Europe program for summer 2026, scrapping Newark–Stockholm and reducing service on a handful of other transatlantic routes, per recently loaded schedule filings reviewed by aviation tracker AeroXplorer. These filings reflect what airlines upload to reservation systems for ticket sales. Aeroxplorer
Timing is key here: airlines are finalizing aircraft and crew schedules for the busy season, even as travelers snap up summer seats. When a route gets pulled a year in advance, it can still shake up pricing and connections in cities where just a single daily nonstop is on offer.
Demand trends are sending conflicting messages. According to Cirium data reported by Afar, summer 2026 bookings from Europe to the U.S. have dropped 14% compared to last year, and bookings from the U.S. to Europe are also down—off 7%. Still, carriers are touting more ambitious transatlantic schedules for the period. Afar
In recent days, Simple Flying covered adjustments to United’s Europe schedule for summer 2026. Simpleflying
AeroXplorer flagged Newark–Stockholm as the most noticeable cut. The outlet also highlighted United’s decision to drop planned second daily summer flights out of Newark to Brussels and Edinburgh. Routes like Newark–Frankfurt, Newark–Athens, and Washington Dulles–Geneva are also facing reductions. “46 cities across the Atlantic,” is how United’s network planning boss Patrick Quayle summed up the airline’s reach, according to the site.
United appears to be betting on Scotland, with plans to bring back its daily seasonal flights between Glasgow and Newark starting May 2026, according to FilmoGaz. Glasgow departures are set for 1400 local, while return legs out of Newark will take off at 2215. Filmogaz
United is now set to run its seasonal Glasgow–Newark route through Oct. 24, 2026, Glasgow Airport confirmed, with capacity bumped up by over 22% from the initial plan. United’s UK and Ireland sales director, Karolien De Hertogh, pointed to “strong interest” in the offering. Chris Tibbett, airline director at AGS Airports, called it evidence of “strong appetite” for more transatlantic connections. Glasgowairport
The airport said United will fly the Boeing 737 MAX 8 on the route, outfitted with 166 seats—16 in Premium Plus, and 54 in Economy Plus, which is the carrier’s extra-legroom offering. According to De Hertogh, travelers will also be able to connect through United’s U.S. hubs, with access to over 140 destinations across the Americas.
Meyka, a site with a market angle, pointed out that extending the Glasgow season and increasing seat counts might lift airport retail sales and spending tied to tourism. Still, the firm noted, more seats also mean airlines could end up cutting fares if demand doesn’t hold up. Meyka
The plan remains in flux. Airlines frequently tweak schedules when bookings shift, fuel prices jump, or planes aren’t available, and Glasgow Airport flagged that timings could still change. United, for its part, has also pointed out that some new international flights hinge on government approval.
Passengers flying out of Newark will see some nonstop routes disappear, trimming choices for certain city pairs. Still, most destinations can be reached through the flights that remain, with partner carriers, or by making a connection—though expect fewer options and longer travel times, especially on busy days.
