United Airlines announced three new Summer 2015 routes today, including new service from Newark to Venice and Chicago to Dublin as well as a second daily flight from Washington to Paris.
Newark to Venice
The 767-400 scheduled on this route features 39 business class seats and 203 economy seats, with 70 of those being EconomyPlus – a very decent upgrade ratio.
Newark – Venice daily 767-400ER service from 04JUN15, until 23SEP15
UA170 EWR1845 – 0905+1VCE 764
UA169 VCE1055 – 1425EWR 764
Chicago to Dublin
United added non-stop service from Chicago to Shannon and Edinburgh last year and expands it 757-200 transatlantic service (with only 16 seats in business class) to Dublin, competing with partner AerLingus but adding another option to get to the Emerald Isle from Chicago.
Chicago – Dublin daily 757-200 service from 04JUN15, until 17AUG15
UA152 ORD1805 – 0735+1DUB 752
UA153 DUB0950 – 1215ORD 752
Washington to Paris
United has ran this second late flight before and it returns again in 2015 operated using a 757-200.
Washington Dulles – Paris CDG daily service from 04JUN15, until 17AUG15
UA140 IAD2210 – 1220+1CDG 752
UA141 CDG1630 – 1930IAD 752
Rumor: Chicago – Rome
United has also applied for service from Chicago to Rome but there was no mention of this in its press release today.
UAL 194/195 ORD-FCO-ORD with 764 eff from 16MAY (@FCO ARR 06.45am, DEP 10.55am)
Where Will the Aircraft Come From?
Usually a new route means a cutback of an old route, but note that United is expecting delivery of six new 787s before next summer, five of which will be 787-9s with similar load capacities to the 767-400.
Watch for Award Space
The new flights have been loaded into the schedule, but no saver space has been released yet…but these new flights, at least for now, are empty. Keep an eye out for saver space in the coming days – you just might be able to book next summer’s travel now during that brief window after a new route announcement when a carrier releases a handful of award seats on the new flight. It happened with Melbourne and I expect it to happen here.
Bottom Line
It is always good to see additional international routes and these should be quite profitable during the busy summer travel season — we have so many clients at Award Expert who request travel to Venice, Dublin, and Paris and these new routes will provide additional revenue and award options to travel between Europe and North America.
I can’t wait to fly those DUB-KEF-ORD “non-stops!”
“Headwind? What’s that?”
2013 economy seats to Venice!
@Chris – right — I bet Gander is rejoicing tonight.
@mrTypo: Thanks! Corrected.