United Expands its Europe Routes

PHOTO: United Airlines tailfins. (photo via Flickr/In Sappho We Trust)

Back in May, the European Travel Commission (ETC) predicted that Europe was cruising toward an “upbeat” summer tourism season. At least half the region’s destinations were already showing double-digit growth, according to a study released by the ETC.

Of course, one of the best ways to determine the robustness of a destination’s travel outlook is by gauging how airlines are responding to that region.

The formula is fairly simple: More flights mean the airlines are upbeat about the immediate future. A reduced number of flights could signal trouble ahead.

It looks like United Airlines is feeling pretty positive about Europe’s travel landscape as the airline just announced a number of new seasonal flights to the region for the coming year.

“As we continue growing our global route network we are offering more choice and convenience to travel internationally, something our customers have told us they want,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of International Network. “The new seasonal summer flights offer customers even more opportunities to plan summer travel to four of Europe’s most beautiful cities.”

The new routes include service from Newark, New Jersey to Porto, Portugal and Reykjavik, Iceland, both of which are new destinations for the airline. Service is also being added from San Francisco to Zurich, Switzerland and Washington-Dulles to Edinburgh, Scotland.

In addition to its new Europe flights, the airline has previously announced it will start new daily service between Los Angeles and Singapore along with New York/Newark to Buenos Aires this October. In January, the airline will roll out new non-stop service between Houston and Sydney.

Incidentally, when they launch, the Los Angeles-Singapore and Houston-Sydney flights will be the third and fourth longest flights in the world, respectively, and the two longest originating from the United States. Both traverse more than 8,500 miles and top out at more than 17 and a half hours of flying time.

READ MORE: United Announces Changes to Mileage Plus Program

New York/Newark to Porto, Portugal

Daily nonstop service is being added from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Porto, Portugal (OPO) utilizing a Boeing 757 aircraft. Flight times will be 7 hours 5 minutes for Europe-bound flights and 8 hours for the return. The seasonal service will operate from early May to early October.

New York/Newark to Reykjavik, Iceland

New daily nonstop service between EWR and Reykjavik (KEF) will also operate on a Boeing 757 aircraft. Flights to Iceland will be 5 hours 40 minutes and 6 hours 10 minutes back to the U.S. The service will operate from late May through early October.

San Francisco to Zurich, Switzerland

The daily nonstop flights between SFO and Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH) will operate using a Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. Flight times to Zurich will be 11 hours. The return flight will be 11 hours and 50 minutes. The flight—which complements United’s existing daily, year -round service between Zurich and New York/Newark and Washington/Dulles—will operate from early June through late October.

Washington/Dulles to Edinburgh, Scotland

Nonstop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI) will operate daily on Boeing 757 aircraft. To Edinburgh, the flight will last take 7 hours 15 minutes. For the return, the flight will take 8 hours. The flights will augment United’s seasonal service to Edinburgh from Chicago and year-round service from New York/Newark, operating from late May through early October.

Extended Service

United is also extending the summer season on a number of its previously scheduled trans-Atlantic flights from Chicago, San Francisco and Washington/Dulles. Changes include Chicago to Edinburgh (now operating May 4 -October 26, 2018); San Francisco to Munich (May 4 -October 26, 2018); Chicago to Dublin (April 9-October 26, 2018); and Washington/Dulles and Lisbon, Portugal (April 9-October 26, 2018.)

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