United Airlines says it's doing 'more than ever' to fix Newark
United Airlines on Thursday shared more information about its plans to fix its Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) hub. The airport saw a rash of cancellations at the end of June amid an operational meltdown following severe weather.
Speaking during the airline's second-quarter earnings conference call, CEO Scott Kirby said the airline was doing "more than ever" to mitigate the "very real operating constraints that exist" at the airport regardless of the weather.
The airline will follow four "new initiatives" to improve the New York operation, airline president Brett Hart said. It will reduce the total number of flights and move some scheduled flights to off-peak hours; open six new gates in Terminal A; adjust aircraft schedules to have more aircraft operate "out and back" instead of following a line of flying on a given day, thus avoiding a cascade of disruptions throughout the rest of its network; and start "increasing our resources" in crew scheduling and accelerating the introduction of various automated and tech-based tools.
The airline is also continuing to lobby for a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that "equips the FAA with the resources, tools and funding they need," Hart said. He was referring partly to an ongoing air traffic controller shortage that has slowed the airspace around New York City this summer.
Executives were otherwise fairly quiet on details. However, they noted that while a typical summer sees 435 flights per day from Newark, it plans to get that down to about 390 by August.
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United's Newark hub has long existed in a difficult balance, with airspace restrictions, a geographic vulnerability to certain types of storms and limited space to operate frequently leading to delays.
Hart said three-quarters of the airline's total cancelations during the second quarter could be attributed to 25 different days of severe weather, including at other hubs.
Nevertheless, the airline has doubled down in Newark, citing it as a prime location for an international gateway; it benefits from both local demand in and around the New York City region, and from connecting flights from elsewhere across the country.
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Even with the changes to how it operates in Newark, the airline does not plan to reduce the status of that hub, executives said. Instead, it plans to continue its "United Next" plan. Among other things, this would see the airline operate fewer flights on some short-haul routes but with bigger planes, carrying the same number of passengers or more.
"United Next always contemplated that the only way to grow in Newark was upgrading from regional to mainline flying," chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said. "While we need to cut departures more than planned, we don't believe these changes will impact our long-term capacity at Newark due to the use of larger aircraft."
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During the weeklong period from June 24 to July 4, United canceled nearly 3,400 mainline flights — 15.7% of those scheduled, according to FlightAware. It delayed 8,771 — nearly half — even as competitors were able to quickly recover from sporadic but intense storms that socked the Northeast during the last weekend of June.
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Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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- 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.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
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.