Advertiser Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers.
Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are both planning on a continued travel surge to Europe next summer with new routes and expanded schedules. Now, United Airlines has announced its plans for next summer with its largest transatlantic offering ever including new routes, additional frequencies, and seasonal flights starting up to two months earlier.
While United’s announcement might not seem overwhelming, this is because it already flies to the most European destinations of any US carrier. Summer 2024 will see the following new and expanded routes:
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) will see two seasonal flights return early. These include:
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) (daily; begins on March 30th)
- Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (daily; begins on March 30th)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
The lion’s share of flights will be added at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). These include:
- Faro International Airport (FAO) (4x weekly; begins on May 24th)
- Keflavík International Airport (KEF) (daily; begins on May 23rd)
- Brussels Airport (BRU) (2nd daily flight added; begins on March 30th)
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) (daily; begins on May 2nd)
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE) (daily; begins on March 30th)
- Naples International Airport (NAP) (daily; April 5th)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Service from the West Coast to Europe has grown in recent years and United will begin service early here as well on flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and:
- Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (daily; begins on May 2nd)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
United’s Washington DC hub will see seasonal service resume early on the following routes:
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) (daily; begins on February 15th)
- Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) (daily; begins on February 15th)
- Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (daily; begins on February 15th)
I’ve long said that United gets kudos for its impressive international route network. While American dropped many routes and Delta was not as quick to add destinations, United has stepped up and tried new leisure destinations, smaller markets, and added frequencies. The airline will be the only one providing nonstop flights between the US and Faro in Portugal this summer. This has given it a clear advantage. Last spring, United flew 33% more customers across the Atlantic than it did in 2022, and it anticipates the demand will only continue to grow in spring 2024.
While there are lots of additions here, @JonNYC has reported that United will cancel its Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). It will also cut a frequency from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to both Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), as well as one of its flights between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Frankfurt Am Main Airport (FRA).
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, said:
United has the most flights to the most destinations across the Atlantic and we’re now giving our customers even more flexibility and choice when planning their trips abroad. Whether customers are looking to travel during peak season or shoulder season, visit the most popular tourism destinations or discover a hidden gem, the scope and scale of our network makes United the easy choice for transatlantic travel.”
Anthony’s Take: I give United a lot of harsh criticism for service and food quality, but I think they have nailed the route network. It’s always exciting to see what routes are added and especially nonstop to smaller markets.
(Featured Image Credit: United Airlines.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
