United Grows Presence in South America With New Route and Added Frequency
In an effort to grow its South American route network, United Airlines announced today that it's expanding service to the continent with new service between Newark (EWR) and Buenos Aires (EZE) and additional frequencies to Bogotá (BOG). The new route and additional flights are set to begin later this year, which will make United the US carrier with the largest offering from the New York area to South America, according to its press release.
The new service between EWR and EZE is set to begin on October 28, with the inaugural flight departing from EWR and arriving at EZE. United will offer daily daily service on the route. It'll be operated by one of the carrier's Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which offers 30 lie-flat seats in Polaris (2-1-2 configuration), 49 seats in economy plus with 35 inches of pitch (2-3-2 configuration) and 135 seats with 31 inches of pitch in economy (2-3-2 configuration).
Here's the schedule for the new Newark-Buenos Aires route:
- UA979 Newark (EWR) 9:50pm Departure ⇒ Buenos Aires (EZE) 10:50am (+1) Arrival
- UA978 Buenos Aires (EZE) 9:00pm Departure ⇒ Newark (EWR) 6:10am (+1) Arrival
United already flies to Bueno Aires with nonstop service from Houston (IAH). In addition, it already serves the EWR-BOG market, however, it's adding additional frequencies on the route. It currently offers nonstop daily service between New York and the Colombian capital, but from June 8 through August 14, the Chicago-based carrier will offer two daily flights.
Here's the schedule for the additional frequency, which will be available from June 8 through August 14, 2017:
- UA1558 Newark (EWR) 11:55pm Departure ⇒ Bogotá (BOG) 5:00am (+1) Arrival
- UA1559 Bogotá (BOG) 10:35pm Departure ⇒ Newark (EWR) 5:40am (+1) Arrival
And here's the schedule for the existing daily flight:
- UA1068 Newark (EWR) 4:31pm Departure ⇒ Bogotá (BOG) 9:35pm Arrival
- UA1069 Bogotá (BOG) 8:48am Departure ⇒ Newark (EWR) 3:53pm Arrival
United offers twice daily service between BOG and IAH, so this added frequency will put the New York area on par — at least for the busy summer travel season. Like the existing flight on this route, the added frequency will also be serviced by one of United's 737-700s. These aircraft offer 12 recliner seats in first with 38 inches of pitch (2-2 configuration), 40 seats in economy plus with 36 inches of pitch (3-3 configuration) and 66 seats in economy with 31 inches of pitch (3-3 configuration).
Based on United's award chart, flying on these routes will cost you a varying number of miles. If you're interested in the EWR-BOG service, an award ticket will cost you 20,000 miles one-way at the saver level in economy or 35,000 miles one-way at the saver level in business. If you're looking to book an award ticket on the EWR-EZE route, it'll cost you 30,000 miles one-way at the saver level in economy or 55,000 miles one-way at the saver level in business.
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