United Airlines has revealed it will be returning to New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) on February 1, 2021 with nonstop service to the West Coast.

The airline says its entry back into JFK after five years reflects “not only its strong commitment to the New York City area, but a continuation of aggressively and strategically managing the impact of COVID-19 by increasing service to and from the places where customers want to fly”.

The new United service will operate out of Terminal 7 and effective February of next year, United will serve both JFK to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and JFK to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with two round-trips for each west coast city.

The flights will utilise the reconfigured Boeing 767-300ER aircraft on the routes offering customers an extended premium cabin featuring 16 additional United Business class seats –providing all-aisle-access seating – bringing the total premium cabin seat count to 46.

The aircraft will also feature 22 United Premium Plus seats, 47 Economy Plus seats and 52 Economy seats. United offers the most premium seats between the New York City area and Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. .

“I have been waiting a long time to say this – United Airlines is back at JFK,” said United’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby. “Come early next year, we will be serving all three major New York City area airports with a best-in-class product to provide our customers unmatched transcontinental service from New York City and the west coast.”

United’s premium cabin will feature flat-bed seats on all flights similar to the current Newark-Los Angeles and Newark-San Francisco offerings, providing a consistent and comprehensive NYC-west coast product.

The announcement also follows the airline unveiling the addition of new nonstop flights to Florida from seven Midwest and northeast cities to offer customers fast and direct options to top warm weather and leisure destinations.