It looks like United Airlines may launch a second route to Dubai this winter. While nothing is official yet, it seems probable to me that this will happen…
United secures second daily slot for Dubai Airport (DXB)
In early 2023, United Airlines and Emirates Airline launched a partnership. Not only does this include a codeshare agreement, but United also launched a daily flight between Newark (EWR) and Dubai (DXB).
While we’ll see how this plays out, the always knowledgable @IshrionA reports on how United has been granted a second daily slot for Dubai Airport for the winter season. It’s not known out of which airport United would operate a second flight to Dubai, though the filing suggests that United would use a Boeing 777-300ER, which is the carrier’s largest aircraft.
Therefore it seems likely that the route would be out of Washington Dulles (IAD), given that it’s one of United’s two hubs with 777-300ER long haul flights. The other hub is San Francisco (SFO), and with the current Russian airspace restrictions, a United route from there to Dubai is unlikely.
It’s worth emphasizing that it’s possible that United just requested permission to see if it would be granted, but hasn’t firmed up plans at the time. It wouldn’t be the first time an airline has requested slots but doesn’t end up using them.
It seems highly likely this route will launch
I certainly could be wrong, but I think odds are good that this will happen. United is by far the most global of the “big three” US carriers, and the airline has a massive wide body fleet. Those planes are super easy to fill in summer, when demand across the Atlantic is insatiable.
Winter is a different story, though:
- Demand between the United States and Europe is much weaker in winter than summer
- Demand between the United States and China is only a fraction of what it was pre-pandemic, so that used to be a much bigger market
- While United tried a massive South Pacific expansion this past northern winter, the airline saw a significant reduction in yields, so I don’t think we’ll see United come back as strong in the South Pacific for this upcoming peak season
When you have excess wide body jets, adding a flight to Dubai seems like a no brainer:
- Dubai has really come into its own post-pandemic, and has become an increasingly popular vacation spot for people
- Another Dubai flight will allow United to serve the Indian subcontinent better during peak season, when India service possibilities are limited due to airspace restrictions
- Many people are just looking for warm weather in winter, and that makes this an attractive option
Now, I do think that if United launches this route, it’ll almost certainly just be a seasonal route, so maybe it will operate during the IATA northern winter season, from late October until late March. There are much better ways to utilize aircraft in summer, especially given the length of this route.
Bottom line
United Airlines has been granted slots for Dubai Airport, to operate a second daily flight there. The airline currently serves Dubai (DXB) out of Newark (EWR), so it’s anyone’s guess which route United would add next. Given plans to use a 777-300ER, that suggests that Washington (IAD) might be the most likely gateway out of which we see service added.
What do you make of the prospects of United launching a second flight to Dubai?
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