United Airlines announced on Tuesday its plans to expand its Asia flights in the coming months, capitalizing on the resurgence of long-haul international travel. The increase in international travel bookings this year has prompted airlines to enhance their schedules in response to the demand.
“In general, the Pacific is as strong if not stronger than the Atlantic is today,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances. United had previously announced new flights to New Zealand and Australia in April.
Starting October 29, United will offer daily nonstop flights between San Francisco and Manila, making it the only U.S. airline with nonstop service to the Philippine capital from the continental U.S. The route will be serviced by United’s largest aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER.
Additionally, United will add a second nonstop flight between San Francisco and Taipei, Taiwan, also starting October 29. The airline also plans to resume service to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport from Los Angeles, in addition to flights between Los Angeles and Haneda International Airport.
Quayle noted that Tokyo flights have been in high demand since Japan lifted travel restrictions earlier this year.
However, growth in China remains constrained for United due to Russian airspace restrictions. As a result, the airline will not resume routes like Newark Liberty International Airport to Hong Kong. However, it will continue to offer Los Angeles-to-Hong Kong flights, bringing its daily nonstop service to Hong Kong to three flights a day, including flights from San Francisco.
United, along with other airlines, is in communication with the U.S. government to negotiate with Chinese counterparts on reinstating services. The number of flights between the U.S. and China has significantly declined this year, with only 312 scheduled between June and the end of August, compared to over 4,800 in 2019.
United’s trans-Pacific operations, excluding China service, are expected to be about 40% larger compared to 2019. However, the airline is considering schedule cuts at its Newark hub due to challenges such as bad summer weather, congestion, and a shortage of air traffic controllers. Despite these potential changes, United aims to maintain reliable and consistent international service from Newark.
United will announce its quarterly results after the market closes on Wednesday, and executives will discuss potential changes at Newark during a conference call on Thursday morning.
Overall, United Airlines is strategically expanding its Asia flights to meet the growing demand for long-haul international travel, while also addressing constraints and challenges in select markets like China.
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