United Airlines has announced a massive schedule increase this July, with more than 400 daily departures in the carrier’s schedule. The new flights will operate between the US and Europe.
The airline expects to hit 80% of its July 2019, pre-pandemic domestic US schedule this July with bookings up 214% as compared to July 2020 levels. The airline will increase its schedule by 17% next month as compared to June 2021. From a scheduling standpoint, this will make next month United Airline’s largest month since the crisis hit.
The airline will add new departures from Bozeman, MT; Orange County, CA; Cody/Yellowstone, WY; and Raleigh, NC.
“This July we’re taking a big step toward flying at pre-pandemic levels for our domestic network. By adjusting our bank structures at two key hub airports, we’re able to offer our customers easy connections to destinations across the U.S. so they can start their vacations at times convenient for them,” said Ankit Gupta, Vice President of Domestic Network Planning and Scheduling at United.
United will also make adjustments to its flight timings at two of the airlines largest hubs – Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Chicago will get two more flight banks, taking the hub to an impressive nine daily flight banks and over 480 daily departures. This will help facilitate additional connections and give customers a better selection to choose their itineraries. Meanwhile, United will add a third bank at Dulles, taking the airport to over 220 daily departures on United.
Internationally, United Airlines is giving travellers more choices of flights to Europe from New York/Newark by including an additional weekly flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia and working a bigger aircraft to Athens, Greece. From Dulles, United will also add a second daily flight to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). This is a hub for partner Lufthansa, where travellers can connect onwards to points in Europe and beyond.
The airline intends to resume services in Spain and Portugal in anticipation of the countries reopening to visitors. Flights from Newark to Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona will restart subject to the two countries opening up for vaccinated tourists.
Patrick Quayle, Vice President of worldwide community and alliances at United commented, “As we start to see a strong desire from our customers to travel internationally to re-opened countries, we are excited to move up service and add a fourth weekly flight to Dubrovnik, Croatia. And with the additional seats we’re adding to Athens, Greece, we continue to make creative adjustments to match our service with customer trends.”
