United debuts new international service to Caribbean destination
United Airlines will add a new country to its route map with the inauguration of flights to Dominica.
The Chicago-based airline filed plans over the weekend to launch weekly flights from its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) in Dominica, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
United will deploy a Boeing 737-700 on this route, marking the first time that this aircraft type has operated regularly scheduled service to DOM. United's 737-700 features 12 first-class recliners, 36 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats and 78 standard economy seats.
The new flights will take off Feb. 15, 2025, and operate once a week on Saturdays.
The southbound flight will depart at 9:10 a.m. from Newark and arrive in Dominica at 2:39 p.m., all times local. It'll then depart for Newark at 3:45 p.m. and land at 7:51 p.m.
United joins American Airlines as the only other major U.S. airline operating flights to Dominica, which that carrier serves from its hub in Miami.
Dominica might not necessarily be on your radar (yet), but the Caribbean nation is trying to grow its tourism industry — something that this new flight will help with. It wasn't immediately clear if United would receive any subsidies for adding this new flight, but it opens up a new market for tourists looking to explore another Caribbean destination.
For United, it's a good way to offer unique service from Newark on Saturdays, a day when demand for other destinations is typically lower than the rest of the week.
Plus, it'll be the first time that Dominica has been connected with nonstop flights to the New York area, so travelers heading to the Big Apple will have a new, more convenient way to get there.
"United will be the only carrier with direct service to Dominica from the Northeast US and the only carrier with service outside of Florida," the airline shared in a statement to TPG.
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