United Airlines has today announced plans to add three new seasonal long haul international routes, to Croatia, Greece, and Iceland. Croatia, Greece, and Iceland are all already open to vaccinated Americans, so these additions make sense.
United’s three new international routes for the summer of 2021
United adds Newark to Dubrovnik route
United Airlines will offer 3x weekly flights between Newark (EWR) and Dubrovnik (DBV).
The ~4,500 mile flight will operate from July 8 through October 3, 2021, with eastbound service on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and westbound service on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The route will operate with the following schedule:
UA385 Newark to Dubrovnik departing 7:20PM arriving 10:15AM (+1 day)
UA386 Dubrovnik to Newark departing 12:15PM arriving 4:25PM
The flight is blocked at 8hr55min eastbound and 10hr10min westbound.
This will be United’s only service to Croatia this summer.
United will use a Boeing 767-300 for the route, featuring 214 seats, including 30 business class seats, 49 extra legroom economy seats, and 135 economy seats. Note that while this won’t be operated by United’s “premium” 767-300, the route should still feature United’s new Polaris seats.
United’s 767-300 economy cabin
United adds Washington to Athens route
United Airlines will offer daily flights between Washington (IAD) and Athens (ATH).
The ~5,200 mile flight will operate from July 1 through October 3, 2021. The route will operate with the following schedule:
UA982 Washington to Athens departing 5:35PM arriving 10:20AM (+1 day)
UA983 Athens to Washington departing 12:05PM arriving 4:05PM
The flight is blocked at 9hr45min eastbound and 11hr westbound.
This will be United’s second route to Greece, as the airline also offers service out of Newark.
United will use a reconfigured Boeing 787-8 for the route, featuring 243 seats, including 28 business class seats (including new Polaris seats), 21 premium economy seats, 36 extra legroom economy seats, and 158 economy seats.
United’s 787 Polaris business class
United adds Chicago to Reykjavik route
United Airlines will offer daily flights between Chicago (ORD) and Reykjavik (KEF).
The ~3,000 mile flight will operate from July 1 through October 3, 2021. The route will operate with the following schedule:
UA912 Chicago to Keflavik departing 7:45PM arriving 7:00AM (+1 day)
UA913 Keflavik to Chicago departing 11:00AM arriving 12:45PM
The flight is blocked at 6hr15min eastbound and 6hr45min westbound.
This will be United’s second route to Iceland, as the airline also offers service out of Newark.
United will use a Boeing 757-200 for the route, featuring 169 seats, including 16 business class seats, 45 extra legroom economy seats, and 108 economy seats.
United will use 757s for both Iceland routes
Bottom line
Airlines have had to completely change their approach to route planning, making changes last minute based on travel restrictions. Most of the capacity we’ve seen airlines add has been in short haul markets, so it’s fantastic to see the pace at which United is responding to demand in long haul markets as well.
With talk of more European countries (like France) opening to Americans, I’m curious how many more last minute transatlantic route additions we see.
What do you make of United’s three new long haul routes?
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