Could United Airlines Fly to JFK Once Again?

Rumors circulating from United Airlines suggests the carrier could be considering resuming operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport. After a five-year pause, company insiders say the airline is reconsidering restarting at New York’s largest airport.

After leaving their gates in 2015, United Airlines may be considering a return to New York’s busiest international airport. CNBC reports insiders at the Chicago-based carrier are once again considering resuming operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Reduced Air Travel Could Re-Open Door for United

According to company insiders who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity, the lower demand for air travel could be the opening that allows United to resume operations to JFK. Although the company has not set an internal timeline for launching flights, the insiders say it could come as soon as the first quarter of 2021.

If the rumors are true, it would fulfill a goal of current chief executive Scott Kirby, who previously called the exit from JFK a “mistake” for United. Resuming operations would give them a presence at all three of New York’s airports, even though the majority of its operations come from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It’s also unknown how many flights United would operate from JFK, or how many would be split between domestic and international.

As with their legacy competition, resuming some operations at JFK would allow for additional interconnectivity between their Star Alliance partners, which operate out of the massive airport. United has not offered a public comment on the rumors.

Potential United Move Caps Shifts in New York Over 2020

The rumored additional flight operations at JFK add on to what has already been a busy year for the airline industry and its route maps. Earlier in the year, New York-based JetBlue announced a partnership with American Airlines, which would allow the Fort Worth airline to take advantage of JetBlue’s network throughout the Eastern Seaboard, especially in New York and Boston.