United Airlines to Launch Nonstop Service Between Chicago and Edinburgh

Seasonal service will be the first between the two cities

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Sep 12, 2013, 11:05 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines will launch nonstop summer seasonal service between its Chicago hub at O'Hare International Airport and Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning May 22, 2014, subject to government approval. This will be the first scheduled nonstop service between the two cities.

The flights will operate five times weekly from May 22 to June 11, daily between June 12 and Sept. 1 and four times weekly between Sept. 2 and Oct. 5, 2014.

"We're pleased to add Chicago-to-Edinburgh nonstop service to United's extensive trans-Atlantic route network," said Brian Znotins, United's vice president of network. "In addition to providing a direct link between the two cities, the new flights are conveniently timed to provide connections in Chicago to and from more than 125 destinations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean."

The flights will depart Chicago at 6 p.m., arriving in Edinburgh at 7:45 a.m. the following day. The return flights will depart Edinburgh at 10:25 a.m., arriving in Chicago at 1 p.m. the same day (all times local). Flight times are seven hours, 45 minutes eastbound and eight hours, 35 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate using Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

United offers more nonstop service to more destinations from its Chicago O'Hare hub than any other carrier and has added 11 new routes from Chicago since the beginning of 2013.

United currently operates year-round nonstop service from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, having started service to Scotland in 1998.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,341 flights a day to more than 360 airports across six continents. In 2012, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is investing in upgrading its onboard products and now offers more flat-bed seats in its premium cabins and more extra-legroom economy-class seating than any airline in North America. In 2013, United became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV® on 200 aircraft, offering customers more live television access than any other airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and has made large-scale investments in its fleet. In 2013, United will continue to modernize its fleet by taking delivery of more than two dozen new Boeing aircraft. The company expanded its industry-leading global route network in 2012, launching nine new international and 18 new domestic routes. Business Traveler magazine awarded United Best Airline for North American Travel for 2012, and readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the best frequent flyer program for nine consecutive years. According to the 4th annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey published by IdeaWorksCompany in May 2013, United has the most saver-style award-seat availability among the largest U.S. global airlines. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 28 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.

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SOURCE United Airlines