CHICAGO,
Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines today announced
it is strengthening its international service by increasing capacity to
China
and providing customers with an additional route to
Europe via
San Francisco,
its largest West Coast hub.
As part of this international boost, United now will operate its daily
nonstop flight between Chicago and Shanghai with a Boeing 747 -- the company's
largest aircraft -- offering customers 658 more seats a week to China. With
this aircraft change, now all four of United's daily nonstop flights to
mainland China will be operated with a B747 -- helping to meet customer demand
for more seats to the region.
In addition, United is adding a second route between San Francisco and
Frankfurt, making it more convenient for West Coast customers to connect to
flights within Europe via code-share partner Lufthansa. Tickets will be open
for sale tomorrow.
"We are pleased to offer this additional capacity to meet the growing
demand for air travel to China, and provide our San Francisco and West Coast
travelers with even more service options to Europe," said Kevin Knight,
United's vice president of Resource Planning.
Beginning March 25, 2007, United's Chicago-Shanghai route will be operated
by a B747 aircraft, configured with 14 United First Suite(R) seats, 73 United
Business(R) seats and 260 United Economy(R) seats, including 88 Economy
Plus(R) seats. The B747 aircraft will replace a B777, which currently serves
the route.
United's additional flight to Frankfurt, Lufthansa's largest hub, will
provide West Coast customers with more frequencies to Germany and greater
connection possibilities to cities throughout Europe via its code-share
partner Lufthansa.
The added service, which will be on a Boeing 777, begins on April 24,
2007, is scheduled as follows:
Flight: Route: Depart: Arrive:
UA 926 San Francisco-Frankfurt 6:55 p.m. 3:00 p.m. (next day)
UA 927 Frankfurt-San Francisco 5:25 p.m.
(beginning 4/25) 7:59 p.m. (same day)
All routes and frequencies are subject to change.
As previously announced, United also will strengthen its San Francisco hub
by adding daily, nonstop service between San Francisco and Taipei, as well as
three additional daily nonstop flights between San Francisco and Hong Kong
next year.
Customers will earn 1,000 bonus miles each time they purchase qualifying
travel at united.com, which also offers no booking fees and the guaranteed
lowest United fares. Customers can also earn 500 bonus miles each time they
check in for a flight using EasyCheck-in Online at united.com by Jan. 31,
2007. Both of these bonus mile offers enable customers to earn an additional
2,000 miles per flight. Terms and conditions of the offers are available at
united.com.
About United
United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) operates more than 3,700* flights a day on
United, United Express and Ted to more than 210 U.S. domestic and
international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the
Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest
international carriers based in the United States. United is also a founding
member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 842
destinations in 152 countries worldwide. United's more than 55,000 employees
reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News
releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web
site at united.com.
*Based on the flight schedule between May 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006.
Worldwide Press Office:
Days: 847.700.5538
Evenings/Weekends: 847.700.4088