UNITED LAUNCHES MAJOR EXPANSION TO ASIA WITH NEW FLIGHTS TO CHINA AND DELHI, INDIA

United Airlines has announced the launch of new daily nonstop flights between the United States and greater China, the resumption of around-the-world service to Delhi, and new nonstop service between New York City and Hong Kong. Collectively, these route launches represent one of the largest expansions of service ever by United to Asia.

Highlighting the new flights that start on April 1 will be United’s daily service between New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Hong Kong, which at 7,339 nautical miles will be the world’s longest nonstop scheduled passenger flight.

Also beginning on April 1 will be new daily nonstop service between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Beijing, China, and the addition of two nonstop frequencies between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Shanghai, China. The two additional frequencies between SFO and Shanghai will enable United to provide daily nonstop service between those two cities.

"No other airline offers customers the breadth of nonstop service between key U.S. and Asian business centers that United can," said Stuart Oran, United Airlines senior vice president—international.

Oran continued, "In addition to having the most daily nonstop flights from the U.S. to the strategically important market of China, United is the only airline in the world that offers service to Delhi from both the East—via London—and West—via a connection in Hong Kong."

Aircraft serving the new routes will provide customers unparalleled onboard comfort, regardless of the class of service in which they are traveling. United First customers will enjoy the airline’s state-of-the-art United First Suite. More than a seat, the United First Suite is a personal environment that can convert from an airborne office to a six foot, six inch-long bed at the push of a button. The airline also started to reconfigure its international aircraft seating to increase legroom in United Business to 55 inches and add an Economy Plus seating area. Economy Plus is a special seating area in the front of United Economy that gives eligible customers up to five inches of extra legroom.

New York-Hong Kong Daily Nonstop Service

United will operate the world’s longest flight with Boeing 747-400 aircraft configured with 14 United First Suites, 84 seats in United Business, and 270 seats in United Economy. UA821 will depart JFK daily at 10:50AM and arrive in Hong Kong at 2:30PM the following day. The return flight, UA820, will depart Hong Kong at 5:05PM and arrive in New York City at 8:35PM that evening. The planned flying time will be 15 hours and 40 minutes.

Chicago-Beijing, China Daily Nonstop Service

The first-ever daily nonstop flight between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Beijing, China will be operated with United’s long-range Boeing 777 aircraft configured with 10 United First Suites, 49 seats in United Business and 216 seats in United Economy. UA851 will depart ORD daily at 12:05PM and arrive in Beijing at 2:35PM the following day. The return flight, UA850, will depart Beijing at 4:35PM and arrive in Chicago at 4:40PM that afternoon. The planned flying time will be 13 hours and five minutes.

Around-the-World Service

United’s Around-the-World flights will link the U.S. East Coast and West Coast with Delhi, and will cover 19,705 miles.

The airline will offer Boeing 747-400 three-class service on all flight segments, featuring a configuration of 14 state-of-the-art United First Suites, 84 seats in United Business, and 270 seats in United Economy.

Customers traveling from New York City and other points in the Eastern United States will have convenient connecting service to Delhi via London-Heathrow. Likewise, United customers in the Western U.S. are able to connect to Delhi via nonstop service via Hong Kong. United is the only airline to offer flights to Delhi from both the East and West.

United first launched Around-the-World service in December 1995. In the fall of 1999, the airline temporarily suspended Delhi service due to the Asian economic recession.

Additional San Francisco-Shanghai, China Frequencies

On April 1, United will add two additional frequencies between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Shanghai, enabling the airline to provide daily nonstop service between those two cities. The airline has also re-scheduled the flights to depart and arrive at SFO during midday, allowing customers to conveniently connect to or from East Coast destinations.

The daily nonstop flight will be operated with United’s Boeing 747-400 aircraft configured with 14 United First Suites, 84 seats in United Business and 270 seats in United Economy. UA857 will depart SFO daily at 2:00PM and arrive in Shanghai at 6:00PM the following day. The return flight, UA858, will depart Shanghai at 11:35AM and arrive in San Francisco at 7:30AM that morning. The planned flying time will be 10 hours and 55 minutes.

United Airlines serves more of the world’s business centers than any other airline. It operates more than 2,300 departures each day on a route network that spans the globe.