Airline increases flying to Portugal, Hong Kong and South Korea; resumes Los Angeles-Shanghai service.
CHICAGO – United announced it is expanding its leading global route network, adding new non-stop flights between New York/Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco; Tokyo / Narita – Cebu, Philippines and Houston – Medellin, Colombia. United will also increase flying to popular destinations across the globe including Hong Kong; Seoul, South Korea and Porto, Portugal. Additionally, the airline will add four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai as the Chinese and U.S. governments recently agreed to increase flights between the two countries*.
United now has the largest and most diversified international route network among U.S. airlines, offering non-stop service to 134 international destinations across 67 countries. United offers flights to more destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific than all U.S. carriers combined.
In addition to flying to the most popular international destinations, United has been a trailblazer in introducing its customers to off-the-beaten-path locales around the globe – including flights to nine destinations that no other carriers serve from the mainland U.S., like Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Christchurch, New Zealand; Dubrovnik, Croatia and more.
“We have consistently been ahead of the curve in finding hidden gem destinations for our customers to explore and remain committed to providing the most unique slate of travel options for their adventures abroad,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, “With our leading global network and elevated inflight experience, United has become the airline of choice for discerning customers looking for experiences they can’t have with any other carrier.”
Tickets for United’s new Shanghai and Cebu flights are on sale now on the United app and on United.com; Marrakesh and Medellin will be available later this year.
New York/Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco
Next winter, United will have the most flights to the most destinations in Africa from metro New York – and will be the only airline to directly connect the U.S. and Marrakesh – with new service from New York / Newark, launching October 24. The flight will be offered three times weekly on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with 46 United Polaris business class and 22 United Premium Plus seats to provide options for an elevated travel experience.
This new service further expands United’s presence in Africa, building on the airline’s existing service to Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; and Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines
hilippines with new year-round, non-stop service from Tokyo–Narita, starting July 31. United will be the only U.S. carrier to fly to Cebu with daily flights on 737-800 aircraft, which will have convenient connections from United’s flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Newark-New York, and Houston to Tokyo–Narita. United is the only U.S. carrier to offer transpacific service to the Philippines with its daily flights between San Francisco and Manila, and also flies to Manila from Guam and Palau.
Houston–Medellin, Colombia
For the first time ever, United will fly non-stop to Medellin, Colombia with daily service from Houston on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning October 27. This new route expands United’s presence in Colombia, complementing existing service from Houston and Newark to Bogota. In total, United will serve 52 destinations in Latin America from Houston.
United’s 2024 International Schedule
In addition to this new service, United will also expand flying to more destinations across the globe this year. The airline is continuing to rebuild its mainland China schedule, with four weekly flights between Shanghai–Los Angeles on a Boeing 787-9, starting August 29. Further, in late October, Shanghai–Los Angeles will increase to daily service. This service complements United’s daily service between San Francisco–Shanghai and San Francisco–Beijing. This enhanced service is enabled by the agreement between the governments of the U.S. and China to increase flights between the two countries.
United is also adding more flights to Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. United will launch its second daily Los Angeles–Hong Kong flight on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft on October 26, complementing its two existing daily flights to Hong Kong from San Francisco. The airline will also offer year-round, twice daily flights between San Francisco–Seoul, starting October 25. Additionally, United recently expanded its Tokyo service with a new route between Haneda and Guam, launching in May.
Across the Atlantic, United will add a second daily flight between New York/Newark–Porto, Portugal on a Boeing 757-200, starting May 23. United has more flights to Portugal than all U.S. carriers combined and is the only U.S. carrier to serve Porto.
Navan enhances direct connection with United Airlines as TMC introduces NextGen corporate booking experience
Also, Navan, the all-in-one super app that makes travel and expense easy, and United Airlines today announced an enhanced integration via direct connection to deliver increased fare options, more price points, robust self-serve capabilities, and deeper personalization for a better shopping experience. The announcement adds to Navan’s growing roster of NDC integrations, with NDC content now enabled across 14 major airlines globally.
Featuring United’s continuous pricing, Navan leverages AI to incorporate company policy, personal preferences, and optimal pricing to dynamically display the most relevant booking options to customers. The NDC-enabled integration also includes tailored deals, seamless loyalty program benefits, and access to ancillary services. End-to-end servicing means trip changes are easily managed on the go, saving time, money, and frustration.
“We’re thrilled to expand our global inventory with partner United Airlines, enabling customers to directly access richer content, superior servicing, and cheaper fares,” says Dane Molter, VP of Travel Product at Navan. “As a tech company focused on removing friction, Navan has long believed in NDC’s ability to improve the traveler experience. And when delivered through Navan’s end-to-end platform, adding personalization and loyalty, it creates this modern, online shopping experience not seen before in corporate travel.”
The enhanced United integration follows a slew of recently launched tech-forward updates from Navan to help make travel and expense easy. This includes NDC-specific servicing, such as the automated application of unused ticket credits, as well as the ability to link any eligible corporate or business card via Navan Connect to the Navan Expense platform to eliminate expense reporting.
Other recent enhancements include Navan’s generative AI-powered assistant, Ava, which is automating ticket servicing and customer support; a streamlined multi-city booking experience; and the ability to “Extend Your Stay” paid via personal card for seamless booking of blended business and leisure trips.
“Our teams travel frequently in order to foster relationships with customers and attend events, and — being based out of NJ — it was a must for our TMC to have as much United content at the best price possible,” says Michael Spiga, Director of Business Services at GAF. “Since integrating with the United direct connection, we’ve already seen impressive savings, ease-of-use, and efficiency for employees.”
Key benefits of the United direct connection include:
- Increased price points and savings: United Airlines NDC content offers 40% more price points than traditional EDIFACT distribution channels and increased fare options, driving program savings.
- New servicing capabilities: An omnichannel solution that provides more efficient servicing for travelers, in addition to the self-serve capabilities (such as flight changes, cancellations, and more) that Navan users expect.
- Increased personalization: Customized shopping experiences based on the entitlement of the traveler’s loyalty status.
- Richer content: More detailed descriptions, as well as increased images, videos, and other multimedia elements, creating a more consumer-friendly dynamic display.
“We believe in using technology to enhance the travel experience,” says Doreen Burse, Senior Vice President of Sales at United. “Through this integration, we’re excited to provide Navan customers access to the full range of United offers including all ancillary products and recognition of Mileage Plus Premier status. As a result, travelers will have a more seamless experience from booking to servicing.”
*Flights subject to government approvals
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
