United Cuts Newark-Lima Flights for Summer

United Airlines has removed all scheduled flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Lima, Peru, for the summer of 2027. This move, revealed in a recent schedule update submitted to OAG and Cirium Diio, contradicts the carrier's statement last week that it would not cut any routes in 2027. The Star Alliance member has already done so.

According to the source, the daily service to Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) has been deleted from the summer 2027 schedule. The 3,155-nautical-mile (5,843 km) route was to be operated by the Boeing 757-200, making it the variant's second-longest flight from Newark after Malaga. On a distance basis, it'd be a good market for the A321XLR. United has been contacted for comment on whether the route will become winter-only or be terminated entirely.

Route history and performance

United has operated the Newark-Lima route since 2012, inheriting it from Continental Airlines, which launched the service in 1996. The Boeing 757 has been the nearly constant aircraft choice for this long-haul market.

In the 12 months to May 2026, United transported 98,366 round-trip passengers on the route, according to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) data cited by the source. The most-trafficked month was May 2026 (9,950 passengers), while the least popular month was February 2026 (4,513 passengers). December 2025 did well (8,958 passengers), influenced by Christmas travel demand. With that exception, all other winter months had nowhere near as much traffic as during the summer. As such, it'd be odd for the route to become winter seasonal. The airline's load factor on this market was 89.3%, varying monthly from 87.4% to 91.9%. For more detailed team and player statistics, you can visit our stats page.

Passenger flow and connections

Booking data analysis indicates most passengers on the route were traveling point-to-point between Newark and Lima. A smaller proportion connected through United's hub in Newark.

Of the 98,366 passengers in the examined year, approximately 74% flew only between EWR and LIM. About 23% connected to another flight at Newark. The remaining 3% transferred in Lima or transited at both ends.

Washington, D.C. (Dulles and Reagan) to LIM via EWR was the most popular connecting segment at the city level. Toronto was second, followed by Boston, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago, Milan, Ottawa, Vancouver, and London. To see how different teams are positioned, check the latest standings.

Schedule and aircraft context

The planned summer 2027 schedule had featured a 2:30 PM departure from Newark, which would have been United's earliest long-haul 757 departure from the airport. The return flight was scheduled to arrive in Newark at 8:20 AM. The source notes the route's distance would make it a good market for the Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

The removal of the summer flights follows a historical pattern where some winter months have seen reduced service. However, the source states it would be "odd for the route to become winter seasonal" given that winter traffic, except for December, was "nowhere near as much" as summer traffic. The airline's plans for the route beyond summer 2027 remain unclear.