United Airlines is expanding service to dozens of beachy destinations this fall

The airline industry has struggled throughout the pandemic, and job cuts are reportedly looming for tens of thousands of US workers. But carriers are doing their best to woo travelers back, and United Airlines recently announced it would be resuming service on dozens of international routes – and adding some new ones to boot. 

In November, just in time for the incoming winter, United will expand and introduce service to a bevy of beachy locales – more than 20 destinations in Mexico, including Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Cancun, Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, and 16 routes connecting Boston, Cleveland, Washington, and New York with Florida hotspots like Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, and Key West – the airline said in a press release last week.

Biscayne National Park is located south of Miami, soon just a flight away for Denver residents © PixelPod/Alamy Stock Photo

"For the month of November, we have adjusted our capacity to add flying for leisure travel to warm weather and beach destinations in Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean, along with 'visiting friends and relatives' travel across the globe," Patrick Quayle, United's vice president of International Network and Alliances, said in a statement. 

The airline is also planning to resume flights to seven Caribbean and Central American destinations, including Antigua, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Managua, Nassau, St. Lucia and Roatan, and to reopen routes like San Francisco to Tampa and Denver to Miami. It will also add nonstop flights between New York and Johannesburg, San Francisco and Bangalore, and Chicago and New Delhi. 

United is expanding and introducing service to more than 20 beachy destinations in Mexico © Boogich/Getty Images

Overall, the airline will be flying at 44% of its usual schedule when compared to last year – 49% domestically and 38% internationally – up 4 points since October.  United mandates face masks for flight attendants and employees as well as travelers, and the latter are required to complete an online health assessment pre-boarding as well. It also has touchless check-in for passengers with bags.