dailynewsnblog
United Airlines has added 14 additional routes. You can read about them here. They can be broken down based on any prior service. Six of them will return to United’s network, while two—currently served by other airlines—will be new to the carrier’s map.
Much more significantly, six are brand-new markets. They have never had nonstop flights by United or any other operator. They are Los Angeles and San Francisco to Portland (Maine); Houston Intercontinental to Burtlington and Spokane; and Denver to Bangor and Chattanooga.
United’s Two New Transcon Routes To Portland
Two of the most intriguing additions involve the most populous city and metro area in Maine. On June 20, United will take off from 
Los Angeles to Portland, with a Saturday-only, Boeing 737-800-operated service. On June 27, the carrier will inaugurate flights from 
San Francisco to Portland, with the same operation and equipment. Both never-before-served routes will operate until September 19.
US Department of Transportation data for the 12 months to June 2025 shows that Los Angeles-Portland had 31,900 round-trip passengers (44 passengers daily each way), while San Francisco had 27,700 (PDEW: 38). Both were pretty good-sized markets. Obviously, the summer was critical, with Q3 (July-September) accounting for 36% to 39% of each route’s traffic. Hence, United’s time-limited, peak-season operation.
Of course, passengers can already easily fly between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Portland via multiple hubs. There are many one-stop options to choose from. Still, the brand-new nonstop offerings are low-risk endeavors, with only 166 seats to fill each way, each week. And even more intriguingly, they are overwhelmingly Portland’s new two longest-ever routes. They surpass the distance of what was number one, Denver, by up to 53%.
The US’s New Entries In The Longest Continental US Flights List
Let’s focus on Q3 2026 (June-September), when United’s flights between Los Angeles/San Francisco and Portland will be operating. Doing so shows that both routes will be within the country’s ten longest flights within the Lower 48 states list.
In fact, it is a bit more than that. On a great circle basis, San Francisco-Portland will be within a whisker of being number one. Just one nautical mile (!) separates it from what remains in pole position, Seattle to Miami. That city pair has been first for a long time.
|
Nautical Miles (km) |
Continental US Market In Q3 2026** |
Operators*** |
|---|---|---|
|
2,367 (4,384) |
Seattle to Miami |
Alaska (daily 737-900ER), American (daily/two daily A321neo/737 MAX 8), Delta (daily A321neo) |
|
2,366 (4,382) |
San Francisco to Portland (Maine) |
New route. United (weekly 737-800) |
|
2,361 (4,373) |
Seattle to Fort Lauderdale |
Alaska (daily 737-900ER), Delta (daily A321neo) |
|
2,350 (4,352) |
Boston to San Francisco |
Delta (four daily A321neo), JetBlue (seven daily A321ceo/A321neo), United (six/seven daily 737 MAX 9/757-200) |
|
2,296 (4,252) |
Los Angeles to Portland (Maine) |
New route. United (weekly 737-800) |
|
2,291 (4,243) |
Boston to Sacramento |
JetBlue (daily A320neo) |
|
2,269 (4,202) |
Boston to Los Angeles |
American (three/four daily A321T/A321XLR), Delta (three/four daily 757-200), JetBlue (five/six daily A321ceo/A321neo), United (two daily 757-200) |
|
2,252 (4,171) |
Providence to Los Angeles |
Breeze (two weekly A220-300) |
|
2,249 (4,165) |
Boston to San Diego |
Alaska (two daily 737-900ER), Delta (daily A321neo), JetBlue (two/three daily A321ceo/A321neo), Southwest (daily 737-800/737 MAX 8) |
|
2,247* (4,161) |
New York JFK to San Francisco |
Alaska (three/four daily 737-900ER), American (five daily A321T/A321XLR), Delta (seven daily 757-200/767-300ER), JetBlue (six daily A321ceo/A321neo) |
|
* One nautical mile more than Miami to San Francisco |
* According to Cirium Diio. Entries or the order may be different at other times |
*** Occasionally, some of the stated airlines have a slightly lower frequency in Q3. Some of JetBlue’s flights down for the A321ceo/A321neo will see the A320ceo too |
Delta Air Lines To Launch 9 New Nonstop Long-Haul Routes: See All Flights Now
A bold new chapter unfolds this year, as Delta expands its global reach.
Widebodies Only Appear Once
According to Cirium, twin-aisle aircraft will only operate one in every 357 scheduled flights within the continental US. As such, the chance of them being on the ten longest links was relatively remote, although that was not always the case in the past. The sole widebody entry is Delta from New York JFK to San Francisco. The 767-300ER will run four times daily in the peak summer.
You might be wondering why New York JFK-Los Angeles—or several other major airport pairs—that use widebodies were not on the table. The reason is, of course, because they weren’t long enough. JFK-Los Angeles, for example, is 2,151 nautical miles (3,984 km) each way—about 4% too short.
