In anticipation of a strong comeback in European summer travel, United Airlines has announced its largest-ever transatlantic expansion to date. From mid-April to early June 2022, the airline will start or resume 30 transatlantic flights.
The airline would also reopen and add new nonstop flights to European destinations, including routes not currently offered by US carriers.
United said in a statement that its new route network will be 25% larger than its current network in 2019.
“With this expansion, United will serve more transatlantic destinations than every other U.S. carrier combined and will be the largest airline across the Atlantic for the first time in history,” the airline said.
Five new nonstop flights will be launched to London, Milan, Zurich, Munich, and Nice, as well as five new routes to Amman (Jordan), Bergen (Norway), Azores (Portugal), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), and Tenerife (Spanish Canary Islands).
One Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will be deployed on three weekly flights to Amman, one Boeing 757-200 on three weekly flights to Bergen, and a similar schedule and fleet capacity will be launched on the airline’s route to Tenerife. It will also operate three weekly flights to Palma de Mallorca on a Boeing 767-300ER and one Boeing 737 MAX 8 on its frequency to the Azores.
The airline, based in Chicago, will resume 14 Atlantic operations and enhance the frequency of six others.
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.”
United Airlines is trying to expand its frequency and presence in Africa in addition to its transatlantic development.
“On May 8, 2022, 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 year-round, with nonstop flights from New York/Newark resuming June 5, 2022, subject to government approval”.
