United will bolster longhaul service from its Chicago hub with new service to Tel Aviv and a resumption of service to Hong Kong.
New Chicago – Tel Aviv Service On United
Starting in September, subject to government approval, United will launch new service between the Windy City and Tel Aviv. The new service will operate three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) on a Boeing 787-9. Here’s the schedule:
- OUTBOUND – Depart Chicago (ORD) 6:30PM – Arrive Tel Aviv (TLV) 1:45PM
- INBOUND – Depart Tel Aviv (TLV) 12:50AM – Arrive Chicago (ORD) 5:30AM
United also serves Tel Aviv from Newark (flights already resumed), San Francisco (flights resume on July 8th), and Washington Dulles (flights resume in October).
United Restores Chicago – Hong Kong Service
United’s decision to abandon its longstanding Chicago – Hong Kong route was a surprise last year, but in perhaps an even greater surprise is that United plans to resume ORD-HKG service this autumn. Unlike in the past, however, it will only be once per week. The flight will depart Chicago on Sundays and return from Hong Kong on Tuesdays utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER.
- OUTBOUND – Depart Chicago (ORD) 2:00PM – Arrive Hong Kong 6:40PM
- INBOUND – Depart Hong Kong (HKG) 10:30AM – Arrive Chicago (ORD) 12:30PM
United will continue to operate its San Francisco – Hong Kong flight five times weekly.
CONCLUSION
It’s a tad surprising to see United announce a brand new route during this extended pandemic, but Tel Aviv has proven a profitable market. Even more surprising is the return of Chicago – Hong Kong.
Are you happy to see the return of Chicago – Hong Kong service and the new route to Tel Aviv?
Very happy with the non-stop Isreal flight. As for the Hong-Kong route: I would always prefer to fly Cathay instead and would (literally) go out of my way and fly ANA, if it would have to be on Star Alliance.
What good is a Hong Kong flight once per week? What are business people supposed to do? Hang out for a week before coming home? Far easier to take a CX nonstop — assuming that flight is returning — and have tons of one stop choices on better carriers if it doesn’t.
So now UA has TLV out of ORD too, and AA can’t even manage a TLV flight from their hub at JFK which has a far larger TLV market?
They have to hang out for at least two because quarantine measures in Hong Kong are still alive and kicking.
For THAT long a stay it’s probably cheaper to fly the crew for both directions on the same flight, and simply swap them at HKG during turnaround
too bad the timing of the flight (and just about all UA HKG arrivals and departures, which all follow the same bank) prevents this more flexible arrangement.
Sorry why is UA adding routes in this climate? These don’t seem to be particularly original either
so if new flights aren’t as insane as the spaghetti dartboard AA uses when they came up with SEA-BLR or PHL-BLQ or the 10th trillion time DL relaunches and recancels SEA-KIX then it’s “don’t seem to be particularly original either” ??
Not sure if “flights already resumed” is correct for EWR-TLV, as this flight was never fully cancelled – it flew daily since mid March
As to your silly question, happy is a word I do not associate with United Airlines.
They are picking up pieces from the collapse of El Al. El Al was supposed to start Chicago-TLV service in 2020, but that has now been canceled. I think United is wisely positioning themselves so that when this crisis is finally over, even a renewed El Al will not be able to compete on this route.
How are they even staffing the ORD HKG flights??
why the hell anyone wants to even touch HKG is beyond me. it’s like voluntarily electing to transit at FNJ and wonder why DPRK doesn’t respect UN treaties.
The new law essentially allows them to arrest you even as purely a transit passenger if they deem you a threat to national risk, which basically means whatever reason they love inventing on the spot.
yea oneworld keep your CX it’s worthless to anyone else, inside or outside an alliance.