CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced plans to fly its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on domestic routes starting in November as it prepares to begin previously-announced international service in December and January.
United expects to take delivery of the first five new Dreamliners this year from its total order for 50 of these aircraft. As the initial aircraft are inducted into the fleet, they will be based at United's Houston hub and will enter into service according to the following schedule:
Late September
1st 787 delivery
October
Proving/validation flights and training activities that allow United to meet FAA certification requirements and prepare United to become the first North American operator for this new aircraft type. 2nd 787 delivery.
November
Scheduled commercial flights from Houston to other U.S. hubs. 3rd and 4th 787 deliveries expected.
December
Scheduled commercial flights from Houston to other U.S. hubs. 5th 787 delivery expected. First international service Dec. 4.
January
Commencement of scheduled commercial flights on additional international routes as announced on Aug. 23.
United will phase in scheduled 787 service between Houston and each of its other domestic hubs beginning Nov, 4, 2012 as shown below. This schedule allows United's 787s to operate more than 470 flight segments in the U.S. in the last two months of 2012 in addition to international flights beginning in early December:
Route
Flight times
Effective Date
End Date
Frequency
IAH-SFO-IAH
5:45 p.m. westbound
12:15 a.m. eastbound
Nov. 4, 2012
Dec. 2, 2012
5 x weekly
IAH-LAX-IAH
3:30 p.m. westbound
6:25 p.m. eastbound
Nov. 4, 2012
Dec. 3, 2012
6 x weekly
IAH-ORD-IAH
7:25 a.m. northbound
11:15 a.m. southbound
Nov. 4, 2012
Dec. 3, 2012
6 x weekly
IAH-EWR-IAH
8 a.m. northbound
3:30 p.m. southbound
Nov. 4, 2012
Jan. 3, 2013
Daily, except Nov. 18
IAH-CLE-IAH
7 a.m. northbound
4 p.m. southbound
Nov. 10, 2012
Nov. 10, 2012
One-day service
IAH-IAD-IAH
7 a.m. northbound
3:50 p.m. southbound
Nov. 17, 2012
Nov. 17, 2012
One-day service
IAH-SFO-IAH
5:45 p.m. westbound
12:15 a.m. eastbound
Dec. 3, 2012
Jan. 3, 2013
Daily
IAH-LAX-IAH
3:30 p.m. westbound
6:25 p.m. eastbound
Dec. 4, 2012
Jan. 3, 2013
Daily
IAH-DEN-IAH
7:20 a.m. westbound
10:15 a.m. eastbound
Dec. 5, 2012
Jan. 2, 2013
Daily
IAH-LAX-IAH
7:35 a.m. westbound
12:30 p.m. eastbound
Jan. 3, 2013
March 31, 2013
Daily
IAH-ORD-IAH
7:25 a.m. northbound
11:15 a.m. southbound
Jan. 4, 2013
March 29, 2013
Daily
IAH-DEN-IAH
9:15 a.m. westbound
2:15 p.m. eastbound
March 31, 2013
Open
Daily
Note: Timing may vary slightly depending on day of the week. Schedules are subject to change.
The 787 aircraft will display for sale for these domestic routes on united.com and other distribution channels beginning Sept. 1. In October, United will announce plans for the official first commercial 787 flights, which are expected to occur prior to Nov. 4 but only after proving/validation flights and training are complete.
"While the Dreamliner's superior operating economics make it ideally suited for international routes, we're pleased to have this opportunity to introduce it on domestic flights between many of our hub cities allowing both customers and employees to experience this revolutionary aircraft and its many unique benefits," says United's Managing Director of Scheduling, Grant Whitney. "United customers and employees can take part in welcoming the newest member of our fleet."
As the first airline to operate the 767 and 777, United is proud to continue this tradition by adding the 787 to its fleet several years ahead of its North American competitors.
Configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 72 seats in United Economy Plus and 111 seats in United Economy, the Dreamliner will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. Customers will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.
Recent photos of United's first 787 aircraft are available for download in the media center on unitedcontinentalholdings.com under "First 787 Production Flight."
About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,574 flights a day to 377 airports on six continents from our hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. In 2011, United carried more traffic than any other airline in the world, and operated more than two million flights carrying 142 million passengers. United is upgrading its cabins with more flat-bed seats in first and business class and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any other airline in North America. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has orders for more than 270 new aircraft deliveries through 2022, including 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 25 Airbus A350XWBs, and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. United was rated the world's most admired airline on FORTUNE magazine's 2012 airline-industry list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for eight consecutive years. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.
SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.
