CHICAGO Reuters - United Airlines announced an expansion of its transatlantic service next year, adding five new destinations in order to capitalize on pent-up travel demand.
U.S. carriers are buoyed by the Biden Administration's decision to vaccinate fully air travelers from 33 countries, including most of Europe, in November.
In 2019, before the Coronavirus pandemic, transatlantic routes accounted for up to 17% of passenger revenues for the US carriers United, Delta and American.
The airlines reported that it's as though they have seen a surge in bookings since the White House announced the lifting of travel restrictions last month. United has said that it expects the Transatlantic route to have the busiest summer possible next year.
In May, the company will begin new flights from Washington to London, New York to Amman in Jordan, New Jersey to the Azores, and New York to Bergen in Norway. Anticipating an increase in travel demand, the Chicago-based carrier has also plan to add more flights to Rome, Milan, Berlin and Dublin.
At United Airlines, we will be flying to more destinations across the Atlantic than ever in the company history, says Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international networking and alliances. We are confident bookings across the transatlantic will be best. Other carriers are also gearing up for the Re-Opening of the World's Most Important Long Distance Market. Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday all of its flights to Europe will have a new premium economy seat for the next five years.