United Airlines Unveils Major International Expansion

United Airlines has unveiled plans to increase the number of international scheduled flights from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, New York/Newark and San Francisco.

The airline will launch new flights to Nice, France; Palermo, Italy; and Curacao, and offer additional flights to Amsterdam; London; Frankfurt, Germany; and Zurich.

United will also resume its seasonal summer services 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."

Just in time to escape the winter weather, United is adding Curacao to its Caribbean route network and enabling customers access to all of the ABC islands, including Aruba and Bonaire. Curacao, United's 21st island destination in the Caribbean, will operate on Saturdays beginning 7 December 2019, with Boeing 737-700 aircraft, subject to government approval.

Beginning 2 May 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.

In addition, beginning 20 May 2020, 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.

Service to Nice and Palermo is subject to government approval.

In the last two years, United has announced 26 new international routes from New York, including nonstop service between the United States and Prague; Cape Town, South Africa; Tahiti, French Polynesia; Naples, Italy; Porto, Portugal; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Chicago

United will begin daily nonstop year-round Boeing 767-300ER service between Chicago O'Hare and Zurich on 28 March 2020.

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.

Amsterdam and Frankfurt

In addition to United's brand-new and extended routes from its New York/Newark gateway, United has confirmed the addition of a second daily flight between New York/Newark and Amsterdam and Frankfurt, Germany.

The additional flights, beginning 28 March 2020, will enable more customers from across the United States to easily connect to Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

United will operate its second daily year-round Frankfurt service with its premium Boeing 767- 300ER aircraft with 46 United Polaris business class seats.

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.

London and New Delhi

Subject to government approval, United will expand service between Denver and London to year-round, beginning 1 November 2019, with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

Originally announced as seasonal service between San Francisco and New Delhi, United is expanding the route 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 5 December 2019.

Europe

United is extending its seasonal services between New York/Newark and Athens, Greece; Naples, Italy; and Porto, Portugal, and between Washington and Barcelona, Spain.

United will resume service one month earlier between New York/Newark and Porto, Portugal, on 28 March 2020, and will resume service between New York/Newark and Athens and Naples, and between Washington and Barcelona two weeks earlier, on 8 May 2020.

Cape Town, South Africa

United will begin operating the first-ever nonstop service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa, on 15 December 2019, with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

United's new service will decrease 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.

Premium Seats

United has been adding more United Polaris business class seats on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The reconfigured 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.

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