WTM2011: United Dreamliner ‘could come to London’
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United Airlines has announced it will commence services between Manchester and Washington D.C. from May next year. The non-stop route will run daily from 2 May, subject to government approval, with both business and economy seats. The announcement comes as the carrier prepares for its final stage in merging United and Continental, which is set to be completed in March.
Charles Duncan, vice president transatlantic, Middle East and Africa told Travel Daily the airline will make an important step at the end of this month when it receives its single operating certificate. In addition, its frequent flyer programmes will combine on 1 January and then it plans to move onto a single reservations platform in early March.
Meanwhile, Duncan hinted that one of its new Dreamliner 787s could be implemented on a London route. “Theaircraft was built for international routes so we are not sure which, but there’s no doubt it could come to London,” he told Travel Daily.
Duncan added the UKteam will continue to meet travel agents to discuss the changes. “The UK marketis so important to us and recently we met with 3, 000 travel agents in ourroadshow,” said Duncan. “They know that Continental is becoming United but weneeded to push that Continental is being phased out”. The carrier has also recently signed a dealwith Panasonic to provide WiFi on 300 aircraft. It is also continuouslyinvesting money into its airport product.