United Airlines will resume almost 30 international routes in September, even as demand takes a tumble due to the continuing travel restrictions and unease over COVID-19. Here’s a look at the United Airlines September 2020 schedule, both domestically and internationally.
United Outlines September 2020 Schedule
The September 2020 United schedule will be 37% of the September 2019 overall schedule and mark a 4% increase over planned travel for August. Domestically, United will fly 40% of its 2019 schedule while internationally United will fly 30% of its 2019 schedule.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Vice President of International Network and Alliances, noted that United’s focus right now is on leisure travel, not business:
“We continue to be realistic in our approach to building back our international and domestic schedules by closely monitoring customer demand and flying where people want to go. In September, we’re adding even more options for leisure travelers or those who want to visit friends and relatives, whether that’s within the United States or around the world.”
That’s not so much a preference as much as it is a reflection of reality.
United Domestic Additions
United will focus on its mid-continent hubs, with increased serve from Denver, Chicago, and Houston. Overall, it will add 48 new routes (40 daily flights), which have not been announced yet. With Hawaii set to reopen, United will also resume service to Hilo and Kauai and increase service to Honolulu, Kona, and Maui.
United International Additions – Atlantic
As Live and Let’s Fly reported earlier this month, United will launch new service between Chicago and Tel Aviv in September. It will also resume service on four routes:
- Chicago ⇄ Amsterdam
- Houston ⇄ Amsterdam
- Houston ⇄ Frankfurt
- San Francisco ⇄ Munich
This marks the first return of transatlantic service to Houston. Service between Chicago and both London and Frankfurt will return to daily.
United International Additions – Pacific
Although previously announced, United still plans to reintroduce service on two routes:
- Los Angeles ⇄ Sydney
- Chicago ⇄ Hong Kong
United International Additions – Latin America/Caribbean
September Routes resumptions in Latin America and the Caribbean include:
- Chicago ⇄ San Juan
- Chicago ⇄ Puerto Vallarta
- Denver ⇄ Cabo San Luca
- Denver ⇄ Puerto Vallarta
- Houston ⇄ Aguascalientes
- Houston ⇄ San Jose, Costa Rica
- Houston ⇄ Tampico
- Houston ⇄ Veracruz
- Los Angeles ⇄ Puerto Vallarta
- Newark ⇄ San Jose, Costa Rica
- Newark ⇄ St. Thomas
- Washington Dulles ⇄ San Juan
United will also increase service between Houston and Quito, Ecuador.
CONCLUSION
United’s lean September schedule represents that demand is not returning as fast as it appeared as recently as late June. Many routes are slated to return, but do not hold your breath if numbers continue to get worse and severe travel restrictions remain in place.
They are trying to focus on leisure travelers by launching these flights at the end of the tourist season? I wonder how much of these new routes is just testing the waters on demand ?
That must be part of it the calculation.
Matthew, I am assuming this is so something you would know, but do you know when UA will unveil it’s 2021 schedule? Or what timeframe they typically do? I know AA has and I would have to imagine UA will increase for winter and summer 2021 as well.
I’m expecting it soon, but I honestly think it would mean little at this point. Too much uncertainty in the air. It will probably be far more optimistic that the situation will actually warrant next spring/summer.
Awesome, thank you
They should leave SFO-MUC to Lufthansa, who are already operating the route with an A350.
I must be missing something here. What’s the point of an ORDLHR or anything to LHR as one only has to go into a 14-day quarantine upon arrival? Has the restriction flying from the States been lifted? It’s difficult to keep up with all this crap these days.
@airfarer
Maybe dual citizenship passengers and cargo purposes?
Viruses don’t care what passport you hold. Any smart immigration policymakers care more about whether I’ve been marinating in Coronaland (USA) than what country issued my passport.
Throughout the pandemic, United has maintained 787-10 service ORD-LHR daily. They must be using this big ship (formely the route was 767-300 Hi-J config) for cargo opportunities I suspect as passenger count has been nil.
Matthew, why do you think for HKG they restarted ORD first over EWR? Esp. since they had previously suspended ORD first.
My husband is in new delhi,india.
He has been gone for 16 months now,he needs to come home to his family in the U.S. now please.
Someone find away to get him home.thanks
I highly doubt Americans will be allowed to travel to Europe in September…
Not sure STT is in Latin America, but I’m sure the folks in the USVI are happy to have a flight somewhere other than Miami.
/Caribbean #MyBad