If you ask me, or anyone who is even borderline objective, United Airlines has by far the most interesting route network of any US carrier (United flies to the most destinations and most countries of any US carrier), and the airline keeps expanding.
In recent years, United has made a game of allowing the public to guess new routes, and I sure enjoy playing along. Here’s the latest example of that, as the airline seems to be planning a big route announcement tomorrow.
In this post:
United plans to announce new international routes
At 8AM ET on Thursday, October 9, 2025, United will be announcing new routes that will launch at some point in 2026. United has posted a 45-second video on social media, inviting people to “crack the code” to the carrier’s newest routes. There are then some zoomed in images, which almost create more confusion than anything else.
Separately, United’s SVP of Global Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle, posted a video on his Instagram page, with some different clues.
I have to give United credit for consistently having unique videos about route announcements that engage people. Just as an example, below are a couple of videos from previous years.
What new routes will United introduce?
For some general context, United typically has two big route announcements per year, as it relates to long haul flights. Typically in the fall, United announces new transatlantic flying for summer, while in the spring, United announces new long haul winter flying.
Typically the fall announcement is bigger than the spring announcement. We’ve seen both American and Delta already announce new summer routes for next year, so presumably this is what we’re also going to see from United tomorrow, with a single announcement that makes a big splash.
Now, the above video aside, a few general thoughts:
- United will be fairly limited in terms of its incremental, year-over-year growth, since the airline isn’t currently taking delivery of new long haul aircraft at a very fast pace (though that’s not to say some old routes won’t be pulled, and replaced by new ones)
- United’s announcement last fall was absolutely wild, with new destinations like Greenland and Mongolia (admittedly with flights operated by 737s and short seasons), so here’s to hoping we see something even half as interesting
- The southern part of Europe has been increasingly popular in recent years, though we’re reaching the point where there’s probably not much service anymore that can be added
- Delta recently announced it would fly to Malta and Sardinia, and there aren’t many European destinations served by Delta and not United, so one certainly assumes those are contenders
Aside from the sort of Morse code clue at the beginning (can anyone make sense of that?), the video finishes with the below pictures being briefly shown, which I imagine are intended to represent some of the new destinations. I labeled them each with a number in the caption, in case anyone wants to take a guess at which destination a specific frame refers to.
I’m sure collectively OMAAT readers will be able to draw some conclusions based on the above, so please do chime in with your take!
Bottom line
United Airlines is teasing new routes that will be announced tomorrow. The clues are limited, with the airline displaying some Morse code, as well as some zoomed in pictures of clues. It’s anyone’s guess what United will add, though I suspect there will be a heavy focus on Europe, given that this is presumably an announcement for summer 2026 routes.
What routes do you think United will announce?
The plain and honest truth is that …. discerning international passengers care not a jot about new routes planed by any American airline. As no American airline is anything like World Class, why would we ever consider flying such low quality products? Still, others might not care about quality as long as they can travel from A to B, for the least amount of Credit Card Points.
How exactly are you travelling world class across the atlantic? maybe despite Singapore's 5th freedom flights?
As far as I’ve gotten:
#1 : Spells ROOF (Airfield in Cali)
#2: Spells HOGE (Kahului Airport)
#3: Spells AR-?
#4: Spells CLYD(A) (Calvi Airport) Corsica
#5: FIVA Ampampamena Airport (Madasgzcar)
#6: DIP Diapaga Airport(Burkina Faso)
These are my best guesses. I haven’t been able to recognize a pattern.
As far as I’ve gotten:
#1 : Spells ROOF (Airfield in Cali)
#2: Spells HOGE (Kahului Airport)
#3: Spells AR-?
#4: Spells CLYD(A) (Calvi Airport) Corsica
#5: FIVA Ampampamena Airport (Madasgzcar)
#6: DIP Diapaga Airport(Burkina Faso)
These are my best guesses. I haven’t been able to recognize a pattern.
Ok so Clyde rive runs through Glasgow
IAH-CPT?
The US carriers are currently using all of the allocated frequencies in the treaty w South Africa.
I asked ChatGPT what the new routes could be based on the Morse code, and this is what it gave me:
The Morse codes are: Roof, Hog, Up Up Up (???), Clyde, Five, and Dip.
ChatGPT says that Clyde + Five could signify Scotland, specifically Glasgow. Clyde flows through Glasgow, Scotland, and Five sounds like Fife, which is a Scottish council area. The other words may relate to Scotland, but I feel it's more than...
I asked ChatGPT what the new routes could be based on the Morse code, and this is what it gave me:
The Morse codes are: Roof, Hog, Up Up Up (???), Clyde, Five, and Dip.
ChatGPT says that Clyde + Five could signify Scotland, specifically Glasgow. Clyde flows through Glasgow, Scotland, and Five sounds like Fife, which is a Scottish council area. The other words may relate to Scotland, but I feel it's more than just Glasgow.
ChatGPT also theorizes that Roof + Up Up Up could be a place in Japan. Land of the rising sun, and also the traditional Japanese roofs.
Finally, Hog + Dip could represent a dish from the Philippines, called lechon. It's most common in Cebu. I feel if this were to be a route, it would operate out of Tokyo NRT, which fits Roof + Up Up Up somewhat?
EWR-GLA wouldn't surprise me with an XLR though I'd have to go back and remember what their XLR delivery schedule is
and Japan (anywhere) from SFO with the ANA JV. The world is their oyster. If AS is ever able to join the AA/JL JV, you'll see similar (but less destinations) type of stuff
and more NRT to asia stuff isn't a surprise though it is weird to see their JV working on a NRT>...
EWR-GLA wouldn't surprise me with an XLR though I'd have to go back and remember what their XLR delivery schedule is
and Japan (anywhere) from SFO with the ANA JV. The world is their oyster. If AS is ever able to join the AA/JL JV, you'll see similar (but less destinations) type of stuff
and more NRT to asia stuff isn't a surprise though it is weird to see their JV working on a NRT> Asia sort of way the way it is now. Props to UA for making this part of their JV work out of the GUM hub
They already operate CEB-NRT.
Number 3 would be RIGA
SFO-WAW!!!! (Likely wishful thinking unfortunately) :/
Personally, I’d be much more excited by DELTA announcing another hub-to-ICN flight.
I think all the images represent morse code.
The first image of morse is tough with all the characters slammed together: The first 2 words are CAN YOU ... I'm stuck on the rest.
Image #1: ROOF
Image #2: HOG
Image #3: UP UP UP
Image #4: CLYDE
Image #5: FIVE
Image #6: DIP
The first one is: "CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?"
The first frozen image is just "CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE"
Agree on your other translations. No idea what they mean though - in the other teasers, the "clues" have generally been pretty inscrutable.
Although, personally, I am holding out hope that DIP means that they will be starting service to Diapaga, Burkina Faso....
I'm guessing that #4 hints at Glasgow (which is on the River Clyde, and was a pre-pandemic UA destination).
#4 CLYDE over water: I think refers to the river Clyde running through Glasgow --> GLA
The Maui airport code is is PHOG for ICAO, so maybe IAH-OGG
Of course United is announcing new routes tomorrow- on top of DL's 3rd quarter earnings.
When you know that you won't be able to match their earnings, dazzle the world with new route announcements to camouflage the lower earnings.
Nobody cares, Tim
is your life actually this boring and conspiratorial?
are you actually this ignorant that you don't know that airlines and most competitors in most industries don't make announcements on top of their competitors' earnings releases?
that was the way it worked before Kirby took over, at least.
and this isn't the first time that UA has made an announcement on top of another competitor's earnings release
and the majority of analysts expect DL to outperform with UA seen as 50/50 on outperforming
Not a boring as Delta is as an airline, though
The investor relations team does not coordinate with marketing. Nice try though.
@penile
I mean... they absolutely do but who F*cking cares. Just tim
UA makes more airline revenue than DL, is more profitable than DL from airline operations, outperforms DL in NYC, has revenue and profits all trending upward, and outperformed DL in Q1, even with DL’s credit card revenue advantage.
DL had a small series of bland route announcements, including some that are just in strategic response to Alaska’s route announcements.
As airline fans, I think we all appreciate UA’s huge aircraft orders and impressive...
UA makes more airline revenue than DL, is more profitable than DL from airline operations, outperforms DL in NYC, has revenue and profits all trending upward, and outperformed DL in Q1, even with DL’s credit card revenue advantage.
DL had a small series of bland route announcements, including some that are just in strategic response to Alaska’s route announcements.
As airline fans, I think we all appreciate UA’s huge aircraft orders and impressive route network, all with profits in the same range as DL’s.
DL makes profits with credit card revenue and fortress hubs that subsidize coastal hubs that struggle with competition. Great for the company, but it won’t get buzz from airline fans, as opposed to UA, delivering on both counts.
UA doesn’t need help dazzling anyone. lol
How dare you. Don't you know this is a blog about airline profitability and market movements!?
I mean, it is called OneMarginAtATime
Hmmm, as a NY-based Delta 2MM, I wouldn’t say Delta’s route announcements this year have been bland.
JFK to Malta, Sardinia, Porto, LAX to Hong Kong, Boston to Nice and Madrid, Atlanta to Delhi and Marrakech, Seattle to Barcelona and Rome, Salt Lake City to Lima all announced this year. Now some of those are not new delta destinations or are cities served by United. I do give United credit for their large intl...
Hmmm, as a NY-based Delta 2MM, I wouldn’t say Delta’s route announcements this year have been bland.
JFK to Malta, Sardinia, Porto, LAX to Hong Kong, Boston to Nice and Madrid, Atlanta to Delhi and Marrakech, Seattle to Barcelona and Rome, Salt Lake City to Lima all announced this year. Now some of those are not new delta destinations or are cities served by United. I do give United credit for their large intl network, but I don’t need Delta to fly a 737 to Greenland to impress me or keep my business.
I also appreciate Delta’s widebody growth. Nearly 40 A350s and 40A330-900neos in service, A350-1000s starting delivery next year and a potential large order for 787s at the end of this year
With new terminals (two of which Delta largely financed themselves), great service, better food than United, four beautiful new delta one lounges, and upcoming refreshes of the A330 fleet, I think they are doing well enough to keep my business.
I didn’t feel particularly dazzled flying out of Dulles C/D Concourse or Newark the other day…
anyways, just my opinion.
Scott gets it.
And the point is still remains that companies respect their competitors, and don’t drop press releases and announcements on top of scheduled press releases of competitors, especially earnings releases. Whether some people understand that or not, doesn’t really change anything.
And, Mark,
If you truly believed what you said, then call Scott Kirby, and tell him to forget about trying to improve his loyalty program revenues because that is very...
Scott gets it.
And the point is still remains that companies respect their competitors, and don’t drop press releases and announcements on top of scheduled press releases of competitors, especially earnings releases. Whether some people understand that or not, doesn’t really change anything.
And, Mark,
If you truly believed what you said, then call Scott Kirby, and tell him to forget about trying to improve his loyalty program revenues because that is very much a part of his plan.
The simple reality is you are incapable of admitting that united flies 10% more capacity than Delta and still does not generate as much total revenue or profit. If your argument held even an ounce of water, United should be generating more profits than Delta.
Just be done with your childish excuses and accept the reality that united once again will fall short of the grandeur that so many of you think surrounds it
JFK to Malta, Sardinia, and Porto are balanced by cutting JFK to London Gatwick, Geneva, and Brussels albeit Brussels is a shift in service to ATL. Delta also cut 3 FCO frequencies each from JFK and ATL (and 3 EDI frequencies from ATL).
Intentions to fly ATL-RUH and ATL-DEL eventually was announced, but no dates were given.
Overall, Delta is adding net 2.5 daily TATL frequencies vs Summer 2025 which will be the smallest TATL...
JFK to Malta, Sardinia, and Porto are balanced by cutting JFK to London Gatwick, Geneva, and Brussels albeit Brussels is a shift in service to ATL. Delta also cut 3 FCO frequencies each from JFK and ATL (and 3 EDI frequencies from ATL).
Intentions to fly ATL-RUH and ATL-DEL eventually was announced, but no dates were given.
Overall, Delta is adding net 2.5 daily TATL frequencies vs Summer 2025 which will be the smallest TATL capacity increase of the US3 vs AA and UA. To be fair to DL, they added the most capacity immediately post-COVID, but the widebody deliveries are slowing (with insiders saying the A350-1000 will not arrive until early/mid 2027). A new B787 order would make sense for that reason, otherwise growth for the summer 2027 will also be limited.
@Tim why is this a negative? Isn’t it a positive? UA has cleverly tried to screw DL here. I also don’t think it’s about whether UA will do better or worse this quarter than DL - UA releases next week so if they do worse they’ll still get screwed - in fact the new route announcements could have been released on their results day if they wanted to offset bad news. Instead they’ve been shrewd...
@Tim why is this a negative? Isn’t it a positive? UA has cleverly tried to screw DL here. I also don’t think it’s about whether UA will do better or worse this quarter than DL - UA releases next week so if they do worse they’ll still get screwed - in fact the new route announcements could have been released on their results day if they wanted to offset bad news. Instead they’ve been shrewd and diverted attention from their competitor, why don’t you compliment them for being smart?
Andy,
I didn't say it was positive or negative. I just noted that it is customary for competitors not to release announcements on top of competitors esp. earnings releases which is a fact.
There are about 6 publicly traded airlines in the US that matter so there are 85 other days in any quarter when it should not be an issue to release competitive announcements - including today, Tuesday and Monday.
and this...
Andy,
I didn't say it was positive or negative. I just noted that it is customary for competitors not to release announcements on top of competitors esp. earnings releases which is a fact.
There are about 6 publicly traded airlines in the US that matter so there are 85 other days in any quarter when it should not be an issue to release competitive announcements - including today, Tuesday and Monday.
and this really does not matter to UA or DL's finances... but analysts do believe there is a greater chance for DL to outperform than UA.
Jeremy,
if the suggestions that people are making about what the hints are turn out to be correct, this isn't exactly a barnburner of an announcement from UA. in fact, their 2024 schedule increase wasn't really much in terms of extra capacity - how many cities were started on domestic narrowbodies with less than daily service on a seasonal basis?
If UA's announcement turns out to be less than a half dozen widebodies' worth of flying (GLA is very likely a narrowbody), then it says they will start retiring widebodies - which I have said all along they would have to do. They are supposed to get 20+ 787s from Boeing in 2026 but their 767 fleet is just as old as DL's; whether they have Polaris or not doesn't add any more life to them - and the 763s for both DL and UA are nearing their life limits. Plus, they are expensive aircraft on a CASM basis, esp. in the UA high J configuration.
and UA has dozens of 777s that they have to start retiring.
If UA announces a pretty small expansion with widebodies, then I will bet the widebody retirements are going to start.
and, yes, DL's 35Ks are about a year late but scuttlebutt says they will be coming at a pretty rapid rate - which means all of these cities that haven't been loaded like DEL, RUH, likely SIN, and ATL-TLV will likely come in 2027 if not the winter of 2026 when European widebody needs fall.
and there are also rumors that DL might take some 737 MAX8s before the MAX 10s so that could add some capacity.
DL's 100th anniversary employee party is Saturday in Atlanta and I sitll think there are better than average chances of a major fleet announcement between tomorrow w/ DL's earnings release and the party on Saturday.
and THAT might be why UA wants to try to steal some of DL's thunder
Using a Morse Code translator:
First one spells out ROOF
Second one spells out HOG- Holguin, Cuba?
Third one…no clue
Fourth one spells out CLOB…I think, as it’s a fuzzy pic
Fifth one is FIVE
Sixth one is DIP
So yah, that was five minutes of my time wasted! You’re welcome, Lucky ;)
Best I got from 3 was Up Up Up, which seems on theme but not a great clue.
"Up Up Up" > "Golden" by Huntr/x > Kpop Demon Hunters > ICN?
Fourth one came across to me as CLYDE.
So, maybe Glasgow?
Get your bingo cards out folks. The middle free square is CASM. For the betting line, the under over on his comments are +/- 11.
Would it be farfetched for them to continue to build up their mini NRT hub? Perhaps Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bali?
Why would they do that? ANA already serves all these routes
Not Bali...
Touché! But not Bali. Maybe Phuket or Penang?
Maybe we should just ask the UA Patrick Quayle whisperer -- Zach Griff -- not a compliment if you know Patrick Quayle.
Wow...
Route announcements never excite me. Now, a new airport coming online for commercial service (such as PKX) - that gets me going.
Duh - it’s Morse code.