Embedded into the final print edition of United’s Hemispheres magazine is either a careless mistake…or an “easter egg” that United Airlines may be launching service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Will United Airlines Launch Service To Kuala Lumpur?
September 2024 marks the final print edition of Hemispheres magazine and the cover features the following artwork:
As flagged by View From The Wing, what “shadows” on the water do you notice?
- Eiffel Tower – Paris
- Willis Tower – Chicago
- Tower Bridge – London
- Empire State Building – New York
- Oriental Pearl Tower – Shanghai
- Petronas Tower – Kuala Lumpur
United serves Paris, Chicago, London, New York, and Shanghai…but has never served Kuala Lumpur.
Could this be an “easter egg” (a hidden surprise or extra feature) foreshadowing a new route announcement?
As it turns out, I’ve been invited to a cocktail reception next month during which several new routes are expected to be revealed.
Am I putting any bets on KL?
No.
Of course, I’d love to see United serve Malaysia from its San Franciso hub on a Dreamliner jet. It would be a Patrick Quayle-type route (United’s shrewd route planner and Global Network EVP) but I think it would work (as Air Canada’s Vancouver – Bangkok routes also appear to be working).
But maybe, just as United still plans to launch service from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Cebu, Philipines (CEB), it could launch a Fifth Freedom service from Tokyo. Or even from Singapore (SIN)?
It’s fun to speculate, but yields to KL have historically been low but without even the demand of a destination like Manila (MNL). Perhaps a seasonal route could work but I’m not holding my breath.
I’ll do another post speculating on potential new routes United could announce next month, but until the Petronas Tower was pointed out, KL was certainly not on my radar.
> Read More: Request Your Free Copy Of Final United Hemispheres Magazine Final Print Issue
MNL is potentially a strong factor in the decision if they do it. Loads have been good there and it seems, even at lower margins given the cheap fares, if that flight is making money (especially with cargo thrown in) it seems a no brainer to throw KL into the network as well.
On my last flight out of MNL we took an hour delay departing as we were too heavy due to an overbooking of cargo. That is telling as to how cargo May be affecting route decisions.
Mix in the weakness of MAS and KL sounds feasible to me.
The United Airlines forum on Flyertalk would be MALDING if we get KL before the oft-mentioned SFO-BKK that has NEVER materialised LOL
FAA rated Thailand airport category 2, thus no U.S. or Thai airlines can operate new flight service between USA and Thailand.
Could someone verify if Malaysia is rated category 1?
Malaysia has a robust semiconductor industry. If UA open KUL-SFO route, computer chips can transport directly from Malaysia to USA.
“as Air Canada’s Vancouver – Bangkok routes also appear to be working”
Air Canada probably also benefits from *alliance connections in BKK too.
UA flying to KUL will capture this market: Singaporean Americans who don’t want the government of Singapore to find out they’ve become Americans.
How do you figure that?
As an IAD flyer that frequents SE Asia and KL being a city I find myself in a few times a year, I like the fifth freedom service via TYO. Pre pandemic CX IAD-HKG allowed me a nice option to SE Asia…I miss those days
GUM to KUL?
UA only based Boeing 737-800NG planes at Guam, which does not have to range to fly non-stop to SIN or KUL.
But UA flies between HNL and GUM, which is a longer distance than what GUM-SIN or GUM -KUL would be, so it should be possible. Assuming they have enough planes with that range to make the trip.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=gum-hnl,+gum-sin,+gum-kul&MS=wls2
Granted, that might be one too many connections for people in the mainland trying to get to SIN/KUL, but it can be done.
It’s 2912 miles between them
It’s less than than IAH ANC
A 738 should be able to make that distance
Is there much risk for launching a KUL service if it’s just an add-on from SIN? This is how Ethiopian serves KUL from ADD.
KUL is super low yield. I get many of my best ticket prices by doing KUL-US RTs.
I suspect this would just be a fifth freedom to KUL situation, perhaps HKG/SIN on a narrowbody.
Or an extension from SIN, since KUL is only 184 miles away.