United Airlines prepares to kick of a busy transatlantic summer

With the Summer timetable ramping up, airlines are seeking to make hay whilst the summer sun shines. United Airlines is one of those as they prepare their largest transatlantic summer timetable

United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER arriving at Chicago O’Hare – Image, Economy Class and Beyond. 

In total, United will launch or resume 30 Transatlantic flights from mid-April through early une. This includes adding new nonstop flights to five destinations including:

• Amman, Jordan – three times weekly service with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
• Bergen, Norway – three times weekly service with a Boeing 757-200
• Azores, Portugal – Boeing 737 MAX 8
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain  – Boeing 767-300ER
• Tenerife Canary Islands – three times weekly service with a Boeing 757-200 aircraft

The airline is also launching five new nonstop flights to some of Europe’s most popular business and tourist hubs including London, Milan, Zurich, Munich and Nice. United is also resuming fourteen Atlantic routes the airline has historically served and adding frequencies in six others.  Breaking down the changes:

• New daily flights between Boston and London Heathrow, which began on the 14th of April
• New daily flights between Denver and Munich, which began on the 23rd of April 
• New daily flights between Chicago and Zurich, which began on the 23rd of  April 
• New daily flights between New York/Newark and Nice, beginning on the 29th of April 
• New daily flights between Chicago and Milan, beginning on the 6th of May 

In addition to these new flights, United is increasing service to popular European travel destinations, including:

• Second daily flights between New York/Newark and Dublin, which began April 23.
• Second daily flights between Denver and London Heathrow, beginning May 7.
• Second daily flight between New York/Newark and Frankfurt, beginning May 26.
• A second flight between New York/Newark and Rome five times weekly, beginning May 27.
• Adding a third daily flight between San Francisco and London Heathrow and increasing service between New York/Newark and London Heathrow to seven daily flights, beginning May 28. With this additional service, United will offer 22 daily nonstop flights from the U.S. to London Heathrow.

United’s transatlantic route network will be more than 25% larger than it was in 2019.

African Expansion

In addition to these European routes, United is also growing its presence in Africa as part of this transatlantic expansion.

On 8th of May , United will increase its service to offer daily flights between Washington/Dulles and Accra, Ghana.

The airline will also extend its existing seasonal service to Cape Town to a year-round operation, with nonstop flights from New York/Newark resuming 5th of June, subject to government approval.

In Quotes

Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliances at United said:

“We have long anticipated a strong demand recovery, evidenced by our large, strategic expansion in Europe, and with these new flights, we’re proud to offer our customers more options and access than ever before,” said

 “United continues to leverage its leading global network in new and exciting ways to help our customers make meaningful memories and experience new cultures around the world.”

A busy summer

With the Asian networks still stifled, United is turning countries across the atalntic to help fill its seats in both directions of travel, with a mixture of new and old destinations – and ones that United’s revenue managers will hope that will have seats filled with paying passengers.

It’ll be up to the hubs and airports to keep up however – and its providing a challenge already in some places, with extended passport and security queues.

It could be a very interesting summer ahead.

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