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United Trims Newark Frequencies To Brussels, Edinburgh & Frankfurt For Summer 2026

November 12, 2025 John Cushma 27

United Airlines will make targeted summer-season reductions from Newark (EWR), cutting second daily flights and settling each market at once daily:

  • EWR–Frankfurt (FRA): Drops from 11x weekly (2025) to 1x daily in 2026. The seasonal 767-300ER add-on will not return; the year-round 777-300ER (UA42/41) remains.

  • EWR–Brussels (BRU): Loses the summer second daily 757-200; remains 1x daily on the 787-10 (UA994/993).

  • EWR–Edinburgh (EDI): Reverts to 1x daily on the 757-200 (UA36/35) after the summer second daily is canceled.

These adjustments phase in between March and May 2026.

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Snapshot Of The Route Tweaks

Route 2025 Peak Frequency 2026 Frequency Primary Aircraft Kept
EWR–FRA (FRA) 11x weekly (77W daily + 4x weekly 763) 7x weekly 777-300ER
EWR–BRU (BRU) 14x weekly (787-10 daily + 757 daily, summer) 7x weekly 787-10
EWR–EDI (EDI) 14x weekly (two daily 757, summer) 7x weekly 757-200

Result at the hub: EWR grows by destinations (from 32 to 36 in Summer 2026) but dips slightly in total departures (~300 weekly vs. 304 in Summer 2025).

Why United Is Making The Move

This is classic fleet and yield management:

  • Aircraft allocation: United’s 757-200 and 767-300ER fleets are finite. The carrier is redeploying these types to new seasonal niches such as Washington-Dulles (IAD)–Reykjavík (KEF) (757) and EWR–Bari (BRI) / EWR–Split (SPU) (767).

  • Market overlap & partners: Frankfurt (FRA) still has robust lift: United’s daily 77W plus Lufthansa’s transatlantic offering (including JFK) keep capacity healthy even with UA’s trimmed second frequency.

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  • Network diversification: New EWR services (e.g., Glasgow (GLA) on 737 MAX 8, Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) on MAX 8) spread capacity across more point-to-point European cities while holding daily service in the legacy markets.

  • Product balance vs. demand: Brussels retains the 318-seat 787-10, softening the loss of the summer 757; Edinburgh keeps a daily 757-200 aligned with leisure-heavy seasonal demand.

What Stays The Same (By Route & Aircraft)

  • EWR–FRA (FRA): The 777-300ER (77W)—60 Polaris / 24 Premium Plus / 266 Economy (350 total)—remains daily year-round for high-yield corporate and connections.

  • EWR–BRU (BRU): The 787-10—44 Polaris / 21 Premium Plus / 253 Economy (318 total)—continues daily, preserving most capacity even without the summer 757.

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  • EWR–EDI (EDI): A single daily 757-200—16 Polaris-style lie-flats / 160 Economy (176 total)—targets summer leisure while trimming shoulder-season excess.

How To Adjust Your Plans

  • Flex your dates and gateways: If your preferred second daily is gone, look at IAD/JFK/EWR triangulation or connections via ORD/IAD.

  • Check nearby Scotland options: With EWR–GLA launching (MAX 8), travelers bound for central Scotland could compare EDI vs. GLA for schedule and fare.

  • Mind equipment differences: 77W and 787-10 offer larger premium cabins than the 757-200; if upgrades or Polaris are a priority, favor FRA/BRU over EDI.

Bottom Line

United is shaving excess summer capacity on EWR–FRA/BRU/EDI while adding new European pins and preserving daily service in all three markets. The net effect: slightly fewer Newark departures, more destinations, and a tighter match between aircraft type and route economics heading into Summer 2026.

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