United Airlines has announced its largest-ever transatlantic expansion to date in anticipation of a strong recovery in European summer travel. The airline will launch or resume 30 transatlantic flights from mid-April 2022 through early June 2022.
The carrier will also reopen and add new nonstop flights to European destinations, including services to destinations currently not served by US-based carriers.
According to a statement from United, its new route network will be 25% larger than its networks 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.
This will include the launch of five new nonstop flights 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 in the Spanish Canary Islands.
The airline will deploy one Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on three weekly flights to Amman, one Boeing 757-200 on three weekly flights to Bergen and will launch a similar schedule and fleet capacity on its route to Tenerife. It will also serve Palma de Mallorca with three weekly flights on a Boeing 767-300ER and deploy one Boeing 737 MAX 8 on its frequency to Azores.
The Chicago-based airline will resume 14 Atlantic routes and will increase its frequency on six other routes.
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.”
In addition to its transatlantic expansion, United Airlines is also looking to increase its frequency and presence in Africa.
“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”.