en 
Asked by Lusa to react to news, which reports on the cancellation of the route, André Gomes said there is still no official confirmation from the airline regarding the postponement of the route, which would start in May.
“In strategic terms, for us, nothing changes, because taking into account the potential represented by the North American market, the United States of America, and Canada, our promotional focus remains the same”, said the president of the Tourism Region of Algarve (RTA).
André Gomes explained that the information that the direct route Faro/Newark (New York) had been postponed for a year, from May 2024 to May 2025, has been reported by the press and that it is advancing with reasons for this postponement.
“I wouldn’t say that the route was cancelled, but rather postponed to May 2025, however there is no official communication from the airline”.
The director highlighted that the possible postponement of the direct connection between the capital of the Algarve and New York will not have any influence on the promotional strategy to capture the North American market, which has been growing since 2020.
“If it was a market that had already been growing since the [covid-19] pandemic without direct connections, we have no reason why it shouldn’t continue to grow this year,” he noted.
According to André Gomes, “there was obviously a great desire from everyone in the region” for United Airlines operations to begin this year, with a view to strengthening the transport offer to and from the Algarve.
In October 2023, the North American airline announced that the new route between Faro and Newark (New York) would enter into operation on May 24, with a frequency of four weekly flights.
When the route was announced last October, the official said that, in global terms, in the year to August, the North American tourist market had grown 29.3% compared to 2022 and 40% compared to 2019.
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The news here in the US, is that United has been put on notice by the FAA to get its act together, following some concerning safety and maintenance issues. As a result, two new routes that United was ready to launch this year have been put on hold until the airline can provide proof that it is addressing and improving its shortfalls. I sincerely hope United does everything in its power to fix this, because I was counting on flying from my home airport in FL to Faro, via Newark, in October, instead of having to go via Lisboa, which is a pain!
By Tina Steele from USA on 11 Apr 2024, 02:50
I work with United as a contractor. This has nothing to do with United having a small amount of mechanical issues. but with the grounding of certain models of Boeing 737 aircraft, removing 30+ planes from service from United. The same thing is happening with all US carriers, as all had these model planes ground. Planes that were devoted to the Newark>Faro route are being devoted to more necessary more common, United used flights.
They don't cancel flights to one destination (actually two, in this case) due to a handful of mechanical issues.
And sadly, it is 100% accurate that United is pushing their service to Faro from Newark back one year, until May of 2025.
By Mark Dahnke from Algarve on 11 Apr 2024, 12:35
I beg to differ with the writer who says that the only reason direct EWR-FAO flights are being postponed until 2025 is because of a lack of aircraft. As I already stated, United is under the microscope. I am quoting an article from Bloomberg here: "United Airlines Holdings Inc. is delaying two new routes due to growth restrictions imposed while US aviation authorities carry out a safety review of the carrier.
A route between Newark, New Jersey, and Faro, Portugal, that was set to begin May 24 will be put off until summer 2025, United said Monday via email. A separate route between Tokyo and Cebu, Philippines, has been moved from July 31 to Oct. 27.
The changes show how the airline’s expansion is slowing amid the Federal Aviation Administration’s review, which was prompted by a series of headline-grabbing incidents in recent weeks, including an aircraft running off a Houston runway and a wheel falling off another plane just after takeoff. The domestic industry has been under heightened scrutiny since a fuselage panel broke loose during an Alaska Airlines flight Jan. 5.
Bloomberg reported last month that regulators were weighing a clampdown on United’s ability to grow, including restricting new routes and barring it from flying paying customers on newly delivered aircraft. The FAA subsequently said it would increase oversight, delaying some United activities. The carrier is conducting its own internal review."
By Tina Steele from USA on 12 Apr 2024, 04:06
Going to Lisbon is a pain? Seriously! Absolutely no need for this flight whatsoever. Take the train to and from. What is needed are better gate times to align with the high speed trains from Faro, rather than having to overnight in Lisbon for some connections. But, seriously, overnighting in Lisbon, spending the day sightseeing and then catching a later train if you are on holiday. Where is the hardship? Can’t Americans wait to get the all day breakfast, fish and chips and cheap beer in the Algarve? The authentic Portuguese experience awaits!
By Stuart Wood from Algarve on 12 Apr 2024, 09:57