United Airlines Announces 12 New and Expanded International Routes
New 2020 international service connects distant destinations to Chicago, Denver, New York/Newark and San Francisco
August 22, 2019
United Airlines is expanding its international schedule from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, New York/Newark and San Francisco. United’s announcement includes brand-new service to Nice, France; Palermo, Italy; and Curacao. The airline is also giving customers more options when planning travel to Europe with additional flight to Amsterdam; London; Frankfurt, Germany; and Zurich and will resume its seasonal summer service earlier to popular destinations including Athens, Greece; Naples, Italy; Porto, Portugal; and Barcelona, Spain.
“United’s global network is a tremendous source of pride for our employees and loyal customers – we’re always looking for ways to grow and expand our network to connect our customers to more destinations around the world,” said United’s International Network Vice President Patrick Quayle. “These new additions help position United as the airline of choice for customers planning their business or leisure travel.”
New York/Newark to Nice, Palermo and Curacao
New seasonal service to the Caribbean is in the works with plans to start in December as United adds Curacao to its Caribbean route network and enables customers access to all of the ABC islands, including Aruba and Bonaire.
Beginning May 2, 2020, United will offer customers daily nonstop service between New York/Newark and Nice, France – the gateway to the French Riviera. The airline will operate service to Nice with its premium Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring 46 United Polaris business class seats – offering the most premium seats between the United States and southern France of any U.S. airline. The reconfigured 767-300ER aircraft feature 16 additional United Polaris business class seats in the premium cabin – a more than 50 percent increase in all-aisle-access seating – bringing the total premium cabin seat count to 46. The aircraft also feature 22 United Premium Plus seats; 47 Economy Plus seats and 52 United Economy seats.
In addition, beginning May 20, United will be the only airline offering nonstop daily service between the United States and Palermo, Italy, the capital city of Sicily and United’s fifth Italian destination: the most of any U.S. airline. Service to Nice and Palermo is subject to government approval.
In the last two years, United has announced 26 new international routes, including nonstop service between the United States and Prague; Cape Town, South Africa; Tahiti, French Polynesia; Naples, Italy; Porto, Portugal; and Reykjavik, Iceland. United offers the most international destinations from New York City of any U.S. airline. But that’s not all…
Chicago to the World
United will begin daily nonstop year-round service between its hub at Chicago O’Hare and Zurich on March 28, 2020 marking the most flights of any U.S. airline to Switzerland. The service between Chicago and Zurich will employ Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. From Chicago, United Airlines operates to more year-round international destinations in Europe, Asia and South America than any airline. Zurich is its seventh year-round European destination from Chicago. The new service will complement existing flights from New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington. And there’s more…
More Flights to Frankfurt and Amsterdam
In addition to United’s brand-new and extended routes from its New York/Newark gateway, United is adding a second daily flight between New York/Newark and Amsterdam and Frankfurt, Germany. The additional flights, beginning March 28, 2020, will enable more customers from across the United States to easily connect to Amsterdam and Frankfurt. As the U.S. carrier with the most flights to Germany, UAL will operate its second daily year-round Frankfurt service with its premium Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The airline will operate its second daily seasonal flight to Amsterdam with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring 30 United Polaris business class seats. United currently offers nonstop service from five U.S. cities to Amsterdam, including Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, Washington and San Francisco.
Increasing service to London and New Delhi
Meanwhile, subject to government approval, United will expand service between Denver and London to year-round, beginning Nov. 1, 2019, with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. United is the only carrier offering customers both nonstop trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights from Denver. In addition to London, United offers nonstop year-round service to Frankfurt, Germany, and Tokyo/Narita.
As for lift to Delhi, United’s seasonal service between San Francisco and New Delhi is expanding to year-round service. United will provide business and leisure travelers nonstop access to India from the U.S. West and East Coasts. United will operate its first nonstop service from the U.S. West Coast to India with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft beginning Dec. 5, 2019.
Big Apple to Big Five
Announced in April of this year, United will begin operating the first-ever nonstop service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa, on Dec. 15, 2019, with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. United’s new service decreases the current travel time from New York to Cape Town by more than four hours and will provide customers from more than 80 U.S. cities with easy, one-stop access to Cape Town at United’s New York/Newark hub.
New onboard amenities are attached to many of these flights. For instance, the luxury skincare line Sunday Riley makes products exclusively for United customers to experience in amenity kits. Also, DIRECTV is now free for every passenger on 211 aircraft, offering more than 100 channels on seat back monitors on more than 30,000 seats.