United Steps Up Florida Service amid Spike in Covid Cases

Florida may be fighting a severe outbreak of the coronavirus, tallying a record number of deaths Tuesday, but United Airlines says that’s where customers want to go this winter, announcing Wednesday that it would add more than two-dozen daily nonstop flights from northern cities to Florida.

According to Forbes, United will gradually add an additional 28 daily nonstop flights from cities like Boston, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, New York and Pittsburgh to four Florida destinations through January.

Customers will be able to travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa on the new flights. United reportedly is responding to a rise in online searches for Florida flights.

On Tuesday, the Sunshine State tallied 276 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, setting a grisly state record. 

The number of hospitalizations and daily new cases appear to be sloping downward, though experts say closed testing locations during Hurricane Isaias likely played a role in the decreased numbers.

United and other airlines have been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, as customers stay home to quarantine and cancel travel plans.