United Airlines reported a sharp rise in transatlantic demand from Ireland over the Christmas festive period, with passenger bookings from Dublin to the U.S. up 101% year-on-year between 18 December 2025 and 6 January 2026.
The growth follows targeted capacity increases on key routes. United upgraded its Dublin–Chicago O’Hare service from a summer-only operation to year-round flying, strengthening connectivity to the Midwest and beyond through its Chicago hub.
In addition, the carrier has extended the second daily frequency on its Dublin–New York/Newark route operated by a 176 seat Boeing 757-200, with the additional service now scheduled to operate through 5 January 2026, reflecting sustained demand on one of its core transatlantic markets.
During the holiday travel period, the most popular U.S. destinations for Ireland-based travellers on United’s network were Chicago, New York/Newark, Washington D.C. and Chicago, underlining the importance of both leisure and business-driven traffic flows across the Atlantic.
Image Credit: United Airlines
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 17 December All Rights Reserved