United announces the largest expansion to Italy in its history

As part of United Airlines’ transatlantic expansion for the northern summer season, the company will make the largest offer of seats and frequencies to Italy. That’s to say the company will add more capacity on existing routes. It will resume destinations and new flights from its three main transatlantic hubs in Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Chicago O’ Hare (ORD).

Data obtained by Aviacionline through the Ente Nazionale Per L’Aviazione Civile (ENAC) indicates that in 2019 United served 599,088 passengers. Certainly, this makes it the third-largest American airline operator in Italy. This is in addition to being the U.S. airline that offers the largest number of destinations in the European nation: Rome – Fiumicino (FCO), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Venice (VCE), and Naples (NAP).

The United States is Italy’s largest market outside of Europe, with 4,580,268 passengers flown in 2019. Of the top 20 routes by passenger traffic between the two nations, United served six of them, mostly from Newark.

TOP 20 main passenger routes between Italy and the United States in 2019

Rome – Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) are the top airports in terms of traffic between the United States and Canada, with 3,349,272 and 1,525,270 passengers respectively in 2019. North America is Italy’s largest long-haul market.

In addition, during the summer season, United will offer 8 daily flights, making it the second-largest airline operator in terms of seat offerings and frequencies between the United States and Italy.

Schedule as follows:

Chicago O’ Hare (ORD) – Milan Malpensa (MXP)

This new route is part of the company’s announcement of its schedule for the summer season, which will be a seasonal service available from May 6 through September 30, and will operate daily flights in Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner 243-seat 3-class aircraft with refurbished cabins.

• Flight UA416 ORD 21:15 – MXP 13:10+1
• Flight UA415 MXP 15:10 – ORD 18:00

Newark (EWR) – Rome Fiumicino (FCO)

United will increase this route to 14 weekly frequencies. The second daily flight will be available from May 26 through September 30 and all will be operated with Boeing 777-200ER with 276 seats in 3 classes, with the new Polaris and Premium Economy producer, the schedules are as follows:

• Flight UA040 EWR 17:15 – FCO 7:40+1/Flight UA041 FCO 09:45 – EWR 13:30
• Flight UA510 EWR 20:35 – FCO 10:55+1/ Flight UA509 FCO 13:30 – EWR 16:30

Washington Dulles (IAD) – Rome Fiumicino (FCO)

The company will resume this seasonal service from March 26 and will end on October 23, it will have a daily flight operation in Boeing 767-400ER with 240 seats.

• Flight UA884 IAD 17:20 – FCO 08:10+1
• Flight UA885 FCO 11:05 – IAD 14:55

Newark (EWR) – Naples (NAP)

Currently, United is the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service to Naples. Therefore, the airline will resume this seasonal service from April 30 through October 23, operating daily Boeing 767-300ER flights with 214 seats in two classes, including the new Polaris product.

• Flight UA964 EWR 17:10 – NAP 07:55+1
• Flight UA965 NAP 09:55 – EWR 14:15

Newark (EWR) – Venice (VCE)

The airline will resume operations to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, the seasonal service will be available from May 5 through October 23 with 7 weekly frequencies in Boeing 767-400ER with 240 seats.

• Flight UA170 EWR 18:45 – VCE 09:05+1
• Flight UA169 VCE 11:05 – EWR 14:30

Moreover, for the remainder of the northern summer season, United will operate a daily flight between Newark (EWR) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) and seasonal service on the Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – Rome (FCO) route with 7 weekly frequencies. Both routes will be operated by Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 214 seats in 2 classes, including the new Polaris Business cabin.

See also: United Airlines to resume flights between Chicago and Rome