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United Airlines is once again making a visible pitch to New York travelers: consider Newark Liberty International Airport over John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Beginning Dec. 18, nearly 800 New York City yellow cabs are now topped with United-branded digital displays showing real-time drive-time comparisons between JFK and Newark, tailored to each taxi’s exact location.
The relaunch revives a strategy United used in 2017 to highlight what it says can be a meaningful time savings for travelers heading to EWR. The messaging also reflects a long-standing reality of the New York market: United does not operate from JFK, instead concentrating its New York metropolitan area presence at EWR, where it runs a major hub.
The taxi-topper displays update continuously, showing live estimated travel times to both airports and cycling through playful nods to Newark.
The campaign comes as United emphasizes a recent operational rebound at Newark. After challenges earlier this year, the airline says the local unit delivered its best operational summer on record. Newark also ranked as the most on-time airport in the New York City area during the recent Thanksgiving travel period.
United currently operates more than 350 daily flights from Newark to over 160 destinations worldwide.
Looking ahead to the peak holiday period, the airline expects to transport more than 1 million passengers through Newark between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6, underscoring the airport’s central role in United’s New York strategy and the renewed push to steer travelers there.