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News & Blog

United Airlines Extends Seasonal Edinburgh – Washington D.C. Service to Almost Year-Round

Posted: 25th April 2025

United’s seat offer from Edinburgh increased by almost 10 per cent

United is the only airline offering year-round service from Edinburgh to the U.S. and offers more seats and flights from Scotland to the U.S. than any other airline

EDINBURGH, 25 April 2025 – United Airlines is extending its seasonal service between Edinburgh and Washington D.C. to almost year-round. Already flying daily during the summer season until 25 October, the airline’s nonstop capital-to-capital service will continue into the winter season on a five-times weekly basis, operating from 26 October 2025 until 5 January 2026 and resuming 20 February 2026. From 29 March 2026, the service will revert to a daily operation.  With this route extension, United is increasing its seat offer from Edinburgh by almost 10 per cent.

United’s extended service between Edinburgh and Washington D.C. builds on existing daily year-round flights from Edinburgh to New York/Newark, doubling from once to twice daily during the peak summer season, as well as a daily seasonal service between Edinburgh and Chicago O’Hare. United is the only airline offering year-round service from Edinburgh to the U.S. and offers more seats and flights from Scotland to the U.S. than any other airline.

“As the only airline connecting Edinburgh to the United States year-round, we are delighted to announce this significant expansion which further underlines the importance of our Edinburgh services within United’s global network”, said Karolien De Hertogh, Director Sales U.K. and Ireland, United Airlines. “Our customers in Scotland can now benefit from even more time and travel options to visit Washington D.C., as well as an unrivalled route network from United’s Washington/Dulles hub, offering convenient nonstop connections to 65 destinations across the Americas.”

“This is fantastic news as we see United adding yet more growth at Scotland’s busiest airport,” said Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport. “Taking this service to almost year-round shows the clear demand for direct connections between Scotland and the USA, and with three routes from Edinburgh Airport, it’s also a huge show of confidence in the airport as United’s base in Scotland.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing United expand its presence during the winter months, and with already strong North American connectivity, we will continue to work on adding even more direct services where possible.”

The extension of the Edinburgh to Washington D.C. route is part of United’s largest international expansion in its history, adding six new destinations and nine new routes across the Atlantic for customers this summer. United is launching five new flights from its hub in New York/Newark to destinations no other U.S. airline serves, including Nuuk, Greenland; Bilbao, Spain; Palermo, Italy; and Madeira Island and Faro, Portugal. The airline is also adding three new routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including its first-ever flight to Dakar, Senegal operating year-round and new seasonal flights to Nice, France and Venice, Italy, as well as a new seasonal service between Denver and Rome.

United is the largest airline in the world, as measured by available seat miles, and flies to more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. In total, this summer United will offer 800 daily flights to and from 140 international destinations – including 32 that no other U.S. airline serves.

Edinburgh (EDI) – Washington D.C. (IAD)

Flight From To Depart Arrive Frequency Aircraft Dates of operation
UA979 EDI IAD 12:30 15:35 Daily Boeing 757-200 30 Mar – 25 October 2025

From 29 Mar 2026

UA979 EDI IAD 12:30 15:50 Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun Boeing 757-200 26 Oct 2025 – 5 Jan 2026
20 Feb – 28 Mar 2026
UA978 IAD EDI 22:25 10:35 +1 Daily Boeing 757-200 29 Mar – 24 Oct 2025,

From 28 Mar 2026

UA978 IAD EDI 22:25 10:30 +1 Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun Boeing 757-200 25 Oct 2025 – 4 Jan 2026

19 Feb – 27 Mar 2026

All times are local and are subject to change.

United’s service from Edinburgh to Washington D.C. is operated with Boeing 757-200 aircraft, featuring a total of 176 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United PolarisSM business class, 42 Economy PlusSM seats with added legroom and increased personal space and 160 seats in economy.

United Polaris business class is a premium travel experience that prioritises relaxation and comfort, featuring quality inflight dining, amenity products and services from Therabody and Saks Fifth Avenue and full flat-bed seats.

United Economy Plus offers added legroom and increased personal space. Located near the front of the economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of a swifter exit from the plane on arrival. Economy Plus seating is available on all trans-Atlantic flights.

United economy offers complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, beer and wine, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment. On most aircraft, seats feature an adjustable headrest and a personal on-demand entertainment system.

United in Scotland

United Airlines has been serving Scotland for over 25 years. Today, United offers its customers in Scotland daily year-round nonstop flights from Edinburgh to New York/Newark, almost year-round flights from Edinburgh to Washington D.C. and seasonal flights from Edinburgh to Chicago O’Hare. All flights are conveniently timed to connect at United’s U.S hubs with an extensive network of services to destinations throughout the Americas.  Customers can book by visiting united.com or calling 0845-607-6760, or their travel agent.

United in Washington Dulles

United currently operates over 250 daily flights to over 120 destinations across the United States and around the world from its Washington Dulles hub. Washington Dulles serves as the international gateway to the U.S. capital, with United service to 23 world capitals and 30 countries for 2025.

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