First-ever scheduled nonstop service to the U.S.A from North East England.
NEWCASTLE – United Airlines launched nonstop service between Newcastle and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport. The flights will operate five times weekly until Sep. 7, 2015 (westbound). It is the first-ever scheduled nonstop service to the U.S.A. from North East England.
“We’re delighted to offer the people of the North East convenient, nonstop flights to the United States for the first time,” said Bob Schumacher, United’s Managing Director Sales – U.K. and Ireland. “This new service connects Newcastle not only with New York City but also with hundreds of other destinations throughout the Americas via United’s Newark Liberty hub, giving our customers a huge range of travel options.”
Bob Schumacher and David Laws, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport, were joined by Councillor Ian Graham, Sheriff of the City of Newcastle, and Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council and lead of the LA7 shareholders, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Newcastle International Airport today to inaugurate the service.
Cutting the ribbon at Newcastle Airport to celebrate the launch of United’s Newcastle-New York/Newark service today (May 23, 2015) are (left to right): David Laws, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport, Bob Schumacher, United’s Managing Director Sales – U.K. and Ireland, Councillor Ian Graham, Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Newcastle and Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council and lead of the LA7 shareholders together with the crew of United flight UA159. It is the first-ever scheduled nonstop service to the U.S.A. from North East England.
Commenting on the inaugural, David Laws said: “This is a very proud moment. Today’s inaugural flight to New York is the culmination of many years of work by the team at Newcastle Airport. We have listened to what businesses and people across the region want and then worked incredibly hard to deliver this for them. United Airlines is a major global operator and, through its Newark hub, provides a very wide range of onward connections. I have said before that this has the potential to be a game changing route, and a significant milestone for both the Airport and the region. This morning the service gets off to a great start, and I am very hopeful that this success will continue so that we welcome the route back in 2016.”
Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council and lead of the LA7 shareholders, commented: “The inaugural Newcastle to Newark flight is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Airport’s team and shareholders in opening up new markets for our leisure and business customers. The route marks an important milestone for the North East and will further enhance regional connectivity, grow the regional economy, attract inward investment and encourage inbound tourism from North America.”
Photo caption (left to right): Jayesh Raya from United Airlines and the Waddington family celebrated with barbershop quartet ‘Chordially Yours’, who entertained passengers at Newcastle Airport before they boarded United’s inaugural flight UA159 to New York/Newark today (May 23, 2015). It is the first-ever scheduled nonstop service to the U.S.A. from North East England. Flights operate five times weekly until September 7, 2015 (westbound).
Malcolm added: “We are working with Visit Britain and Visit England to promote the region to a new audience. The new route shows the confidence that international business has in our region; now is the time for the public and private sector in the North East to work together and seize this fantastic opportunity.”
Flight Schedule
United is operating the flights with Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst and 153 seats in Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.
Flight UA159 departs Newcastle daily except Wednesday and Thursday at 9:10 a.m., arriving at New York/Newark at 12:00 p.m. the same day. The return flight, UA160, departs New York/Newark daily except Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:20 p.m., arriving in Newcastle at 7:30 a.m. the following day (all times local). Flight times are seven hours 50 minutes westbound and seven hours 10 minutes eastbound.
The Newcastle flights are conveniently timed to connect at New York/Newark with an extensive network of services to destinations throughout the Americas. From New York/Newark, United operates flights to more than 300 destinations in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, including more than 100 served nonstop.
United operates the largest hub in the New York City metropolitan area at Newark Liberty International Airport. Located just 16 miles from downtown Manhattan, the airport offers the fastest surface transfer journeys to many parts of the city, including the AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan, with a journey time of less than 30 minutes.
Onboard Products and Services
United BusinessFirst offers a superior business-class service. The BusinessFirst seat reclines 180 degrees into a 6-foot, 4-inch lie-flat bed and features a personal on-demand entertainment system with a 15.4-inch touch-screen monitor. BusinessFirst amenities include laptop power, USB ports, noise-reduction headsets, amenity kits featuring Philosophy-brand skin-care products, duvet-style blankets and a multi-course meal with complimentary wines.
United Economy features complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment. Seats feature an adjustable headrest and a personal on-demand entertainment system. Effective June 1, United will introduce an all-new, high-quality inflight dining experience in Economy on trans-Atlantic flights, including complimentary beer and wine.
United Economy Plus offers up to five inches of extra legroom. Located near the front of the Economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of allowing a swifter exit from the plane upon arrival.
United offers nonstop trans-Atlantic service from more U.K. cities than any other airline.
From London/Heathrow, United operates up to 17 flights per day to six of its U.S. hubs: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C./Dulles.
In addition, the airline offers nonstop service from Manchester to New York/Newark and (on a seasonal basis) Washington/Dulles, from Edinburgh to New York/Newark and (on a seasonal basis) Chicago, and from Belfast, Birmingham and Glasgow to New York/Newark.
Cutting a cake at Newcastle Airport to celebrate the launch of United’s Newcastle-New York/Newark service today (May 23, 2015) are (left to right): Bob Schumacher, United’s Managing Director Sales – U.K. and Ireland and David Laws, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport. It is the first-ever scheduled nonstop service to the U.S.A. from North East England.
Photo caption: United flight UA160 from New York/Newark was greeted by a water cannon salute on arrival at Newcastle Airport today (May 23, 2015) as it inaugurated the first-ever scheduled nonstop service between the U.S.A. and North East England. Flights operate five times weekly until September 7, 2015 (westbound).
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
