United Airlines adds 3 Africa routes, Delhi and Bangalore as part of 7-route expansion
United Airlines is using the coronavirus pandemic to make bold changes to its international route map.
The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will add three new destinations in Africa — Accra, Ghana (ACC); Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB); and Lagos, Nigeria (LOS) — amid a seven-route expansion that begins later this year and continues into 2021, United vice president of international network and alliances Patrick Quayle told TPG in an exclusive interview. In one fell swoop, United will go from one seasonal destination on the continent to four, three of which will boast year-round service.
United's other new routes include nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and both Delhi (DEL) and Kona (KOA); Newark (EWR) and Kahului (OGG) on Maui; and San Francisco (SFO) and Bangalore, India (BLR). The last destination, Bangalore, is new to the United map.
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“We are repositioning the network," Quayle told TPG. "What we’re doing is accelerating our long-term plans."
The additions come as United faces a challenging international travel environment. Border restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 remain the norm rather than the exception with plans to resume flights constantly changing — often with little notice — due to these limits.
In October, the airline only plans to fly about a third of its international schedule a year ago. But even with a third of flights operating, many destinations remain suspended, including Auckland (AKL) — home to United's joint venture partner Air New Zealand — Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO) and Santiago, Chile (SCL).
Related: United Airlines bets on Hawaii, Mexico beaches in October schedule
Two major airline trade groups — Airlines for America (A4A) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — say they do not expect global air travel to return to 2019 levels until at least 2024.
In a glimmer of good news, United saw a "moderate improvement in bookings" for U.S. domestic and short-haul Latin America and Caribbean leisure travel at the end of August, it said in a securities filing on Thursday.
Despite the positive travel news and the new routes, United's plan to furlough up to 16,370 staff — including 6,920 flight attendants — on Oct. 1 remains in place, according to United spokesperson Josh Earnest.
Related: A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery
“Europe will be different next summer," Quayle said when asked where the planes to fly the new routes will come from. "We’re reallocating where we’re putting capacity.”
While he declined to say how United's Europe flying will look different in 2021 compared to 2019, airlines historically have retreated to flying primarily to partner hubs plus major cities like London and Paris during previous crises. For United, this could mean flights come back at hubs like Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC) and Zurich (ZRH) first before to other cities.
All of United's new routes announced Wednesday will be flown with Boeing 787 jets — the new "workhorse" of its long-haul fleet — except for the Newark-Kahului route. That will be flown with a 767-300ER with United's standard configuration with 30 Polaris business class seats — and not the so-called "high-J" layout with 46 Polaris seats.
Related: American, Delta and United plan to add 15 long-haul international routes in September
Accra and Lagos are not current United destinations, but they're not new to United's map. The airline served Accra from its Washington Dulles (IAD) hub — as it will again with the new service — from 2010 to 2012, according to Cirium schedules. It flew to Lagos from its Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) hub from 2012 to 2015.
United will be the second U.S. carrier serving Accra, Johannesburg and Lagos after Delta Air Lines. Delta, for its part, plans to add service this fall to Cape Town (CPT), currently United's sole destination in Africa.
In addition, United's new service to Bangalore comes as competitor American Airlines plans to launch service to the Indian tech hub from Seattle (SEA) in 2021. American's new route is part of a renewed and expanded partnership with Alaska Airlines, which is based in Seattle.
Related: United Airlines adds 17 routes to Florida, bypassing hubs in pandemic route-map shakeup
Below is a list of United's seven new routes.
- Chicago - Delhi: daily on a 787-9 beginning Dec. 2020
- Chicago - Kona: four-times weekly on a 787-8 beginning Summer 2021
- Newark - Johannesburg: daily on a 787-9 beginning Spring 2021
- Newark - Kahului: four-times weekly on a 767-300ER beginning Summer 2021
- San Francisco - Bangalore: daily on a 787-9 beginning Spring 2021
- Washington - Accra: three-times weekly on a 787-8 beginning Spring 2021
- Washington - Lagos: three-times weekly on a 787-8 beginning Spring 2021
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.