It seems United Airlines is adding more routes faster than I can type them up at the moment, with announcement to launch four summer only routes.
United Airlines Boeing 757-200 departing Dublin Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The airline is adding new routes to:
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Porto, Portugal
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Zurich, Switzerland
Let’s break these new routes down.
Newark to Reykjavik
A brand new service for United for the summer season of 2018. The route will be offered as below:
UA138 DEPART EWR 22:30 ARRIVE KEF 08:10+1 UA139 DEPART KEF 11:55 ARRIVE EWR 14:05 Operates from Newark from 23 May 2018 - 3rd October 2018 Operates from Reykjavik from 24 May 2018 - 4th October 2018 Booked Equipment: Boeing 757-200
Flight times will be 5 hours 40 minutes eastbound and 6 hours 10 minutes westbound.
An interesting choice for those redeeming miles. There will be completion however, with both Icelandair and WOW Air operating on this route.
Newark to Porto, Portugal
Another route for a Boeing 757, United will be adding Porto to the network for the summer
UA144 DEPART EWR 21:45 ARRIVE OPO 09:50+1 UA145 DEPART OPO 12:35 ARRIVE EWR 13:35 Operates from Newark from 23 May 2018 - 3rd October 2018 Operates from Porto from 24 May 2018 - 4th October 2018 Booked Equipment: Boeing 757-200
For those who enjoy time aboard 757s, flight times will be 7 hours 5 minutes eastbound and 8 hours westbound. United will be going against fellow Star Alliance carrier TAP Portugal on this route.
San Francisco to Zürich
Time for something with larger planes – with United using a Boeing 787-8 between San Francisco and Zürich.
United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner departing Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
UA44 DEPART SFO 14:10 ARRIVE ZRH 10:10+1 UA45 DEPART ZRH 09:50 ARRIVE SFO 12:40 Operates from San Francisco from 7th June 2018 - 26th October 2018 Operates from Zurich from 8th June 2018 - 27th October 2018 Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-8
Those who wish to connect beyond Zürich can utilise Swiss International Airlines routes from its Zürich hub, with timings to meet these flights. It’s a long slog in the 787, with flight times 11 hours eastbound and 11 hours 50 minutes westbound.
United will compete with Swiss on the route.
Washington Dulles to Edinburgh
Finally, back to the 757 and a summer route between Washington to the Scottish Capital – with a new addition for the summer.
UA146 DEPART IAD 22:10 ARRIVE OPO 10:25+1 UA147 DEPART EDI 12:40 ARRIVE IAD Operates from Washington Dulles from 23 May 2018 - 3rd October 2018 Operates from Edinburgh from 24 May 2018 - 4th October 2018 Booked Equipment: Boeing 757-200
Flight times for the Edinburgh service will be 7 hours 15 minutes eastbound and 8 hours westbound. United will fly uncontested on this route.
On the route launches, Patrick Quayle, United Airlines vice president of International Network states
“As we continue growing our global route network we are offering more choice and convenience to travel internationally, something our customers have told us they want”
“The new seasonal summer flights offer customers even more opportunities to plan summer travel to four of Europe’s most beautiful cities.”
All routes are subject to governmental approval, but are available for booking as of today (be it via cash or redemption with miles).
Some interesting routes, with the idea of “thin and long” being the order of the day – with United Airlines using Boeing 757-200s and Boeing 787-8s.
And it’s giving more work for the Boeing 757 fleet. Eventually, United Airlines (as many other airlines who use their 757s on long routes), will have to work out which way they go to replace when these frames have used up all their cycles…
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