United Airlines is set to relaunch daily, non-stop flights between Scotland and the US in 2022. From March 5th, 2022, United will resume its daily service between Edinburgh and New York. Additionally, the carrier's seasonal services from Edinburgh to Chicago O’Hare and Washington DC will begin on May 7th.

United Airlines first to return to Scotland

United Airlines is set to become the first US airline to return to Scotland. United will resume its daily, direct service between Edinburgh and New York and bring back its seasonal services from Edinburgh to Chicago O’Hare and Washington DC in 2022.

Bob Schumacher, United’s Director Sales UK and Ireland, said,

"We are delighted to return to Scotland in 2022 and resume nonstop services from Edinburgh to the United States."

The non-stop service between Edinburgh and New York (Newark International Airport) will relaunch on March 5th, 2022. Flights between Edinburgh and Chicago O’Hare/Washington DC will begin a couple of months later on May 7th.

All flights will be operated with United's fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 169 available seats. This will include 16 flat-bed seats in business class and 153 in economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom.

Schumacher added,

"With the return of services, our customers in Edinburgh can once again take advantage of direct connections to the US, as well as an unrivalled route network from United’s hubs at New York/Newark, Chicago and Washington, D.C., offering convenient nonstop connections to 129 destinations across the Americas."

Serving Scotland since 1998

United Airlines first began operating flights between the US and Scotland in 1998. With its relaunch in 2022, United will become the first airline to resume non-stop flights between the two countries. It will also offer more services between Scotland and the US than any other carrier.

The airline scrapped its US-Scotland services in the wake of the COVID pandemic and will finally resume flights almost two years later.

Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s Chief Executive, said,

"It’s incredibly exciting to be resuming our transatlantic services with United to allow direct travel between Scotland and the USA for the first time in two years. It will allow families to reunite, friends to reconnect and re-open the strong tourism destinations on both sides of the Atlantic."

New restrictions under consideration in the US

With the new Omicron COVID-19 variant now spreading across the globe, US authorities are contemplating updating entry requirements for international travelers. This would include shortening the pre-departure testing timeframe and mandating more testing upon arrival, regardless of vaccination status.

Under current rules, travelers need to take a PCR test up to three days before departure. The timeframe would be changed to one day as an added precaution.

A CDC spokesperson said in a statement,

"A revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States. This strengthens already robust protocols in place for international travel, including requirements for foreign travelers to be fully vaccinated."

Last week, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said that Scotland may introduce further restrictions to stop the spread of the new variant. The UK has already mandated self-isolation and PCR testing upon arrival, which came into effect this Tuesday.

Are you excited to see United Airlines return to Scotland? Have you ever flown with United on their US-Scotland services? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.