United Airlines Announces Significant Expansion to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America
May 03, 2004
America’s Largest International Carrier Adds Leisure Destinations For Holiday Travel
Chicago, May 3, 2004 – United Airlines (OTCBB: UALAQ.OB) today announced that it is again bolstering its international portfolio with service to seven new destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, in time for winter holiday travel. Service is scheduled to begin in December, subject to approval of government operating authorities.
“Our customers have told us they want one airline and one frequent flyer program to meet their business and leisure travel needs,” said Graham Atkinson, senior vice president – Worldwide Sales and Alliances. “With the addition of these warm-weather vacation destinations, we can provide our customers with even more choices for international travel, supported by the breadth of our global network and Mileage Plus, the most preferred frequent flyer program.”
Service to the new destinations will be launched in conjunction with United Vacations, which will create vacation packages for each of these destinations.
United plans to offer new Mexico service to Cozumel, Cancun, San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa.
Caribbean service will include Montego Bay, Jamaica; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles; and additional service to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. United previously announced its intent to operate service from Denver to Cancun, Mexico, subject to receipt of government operating authority.
United will also launch Central American service from Chicago O’Hare to San Jose, Costa Rica.
United currently serves San Jose, Costa Rica; Cancun, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman (seasonal service); St. Thomas, Aruba and Bermuda.
Flight times, frequencies and other additional information will be made available upon receipt of government operating authority.
Departing from:
Destination
Frequency*
Washington-Dulles
Cancun, Mexico: Daily
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Weekly
Denver
Cancun, Mexico: Weekly
Ixtapa, Mexico: Weekly
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico: Weekly
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Daily on Ted
San Francisco
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Daily on Ted
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico: Daily on Ted
Cancun, Mexico: Weekly
Chicago
Cozumel, Mexico: Three times a week
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Four times a week
Montego Bay, Jamaica: Twice weekly
San Jose, Costa Rica: Weekly
St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles: Weekly
Los Angeles
Ixtapa, Mexico: Weekly
Naturally, I very much approve of the new SXM service. Looks like booting Mexicana out of the Star Alliance is already starting to pay dividends. 😎
By: greekdude1 - 10th May 2004 at 20:40
Will SXM be winter only or will it be running next summer? I wonder what aircraft they’ll use? Going by the other US airlines into SXM I’d say 752.
Just going by what the press release says, it seems like the service will start December and makes no mention of the it being seasonal, only that it will begin “in time for winter holiday travel.” At least, that’s what I gather from it. Being that it is only ‘weekly’ service (I’m assuming this means 1 day a week), I see no problem in sustaining service all year around, especially to the Caribean. The only reason there is a ‘slow’ season to the Carribean is because of potential hurricanes. I’m assuming the service will be a 757, but I wouldn’t rule out an A320 at the start, just to see how it goes. Hopefully, the day of the weekly flight will be Saturday, as that coincides with timeshare checkin/checkouts. DL’s one day a week service is on Saturday.
On a sidenote, nice to see ‘TED’ go international. They are really expanding the TED service, and particular Mexico destinations make sense as you don’t really need a business class cabin for these.
By: RIPConcorde - 10th May 2004 at 20:17
Will SXM be winter only or will it be running next summer? I wonder what aircraft they’ll use? Going by the other US airlines into SXM I’d say 752.
T5, maybe I was dreaming 😉 , but I’m sure I read somewhere that VS were planning on starting services to SXM?
By: T5 - 10th May 2004 at 18:58
Good news for United. Chicago seems to offer the most exciting destinations; the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and St Maarten.
And talking of Virgin Atlantic, I managed to fool a fellow forum member the other day with the image below. Sadly, it’s not for real!
By: Wrenchbender - 10th May 2004 at 14:00
Long as they keep sending me money I guess it’s ok
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th May 2004 at 08:23
Well, these routes are apart of a heavily booming market with tourists, immmigrants, buissnessmen, etc… i recall Virgin saying they will start LGW-Havanna and LGW-Bhamas next year. BA have also increased frequencies to this region.
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May 10, 2004 at 8:00 am