United Airlines deploys least-used Boeing Dreamliner variant across select international routes

Onboard configuration for United’s Boeing 787-8 features Polaris suites in a 1-2-1 layout (28 seats), Premium Plus in a 2-3-2 arrangement (21 seats), Economy Plus with extra legroom (36 seats), and standard economy seating for the remaining passengers.

Focusing on the Washington Dulles to Accra route: United initially launched this service in 2010 using a Boeing 767-300ER before suspending it in 2012. The route was reinstated during the pandemic in May of https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/294456/united-adds-washington-dulles-west-africa-service-from-may2021/, exclusively operated by the Boeing https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-787-routes-september/. According to U.S. Department of Transportation data covering June https://www.transtats.bts.gov/DL_SelectFields.asp?Table_ID=258&DB_Short_Name=O&DIVISION_ID=&info_id=927to May https://www.transtats.bts.gov/DL_SelectFields.asp?Table_ID=258&DB_Short_Name=O&DIVISION_ID=&info_id=9275, United carried approximately https://www.transtats.bts.gov/DL_SelectFields.asp?Table_ID=258&DB_Short_Name=O&DIVISION_ID=&info_id=927102,000 round-trip passengers on this route and filled about https://www.transtats.bts.gov/DL_SelectFields.asp?Table_ID=258&DB_Short_Name=O&DIVISION_ID=&info_id=92783% of available seats. This made it United’s busiest African route from Dulles and second overall when considering other hubs.

Booking data indicates around https://www.statista.com/statistics/204646/us-population-by-anthony-group/#:~:text=African%20origin%20population-,Ghanaian,-60%2C00045% percent of travelers were local passengers flying directly between Dulles and Accra. Other popular connecting cities included New York, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Houston, Columbus, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, and Philadelphia.

Looking ahead to October and December schedules: San Francisco International Airport will again see regular service from United’s Boeing https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-787-routes-september/. Starting October https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-787-routes-september/26 , flights will operate between Chicago O'Hare and San Francisco. On December https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-787-routes-september/3 , seasonal service resumes between San Francisco and Christchurch three times weekly. Additionally on December https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-787-routes-september/1 , there will be daily flights between Washington Dulles and San Francisco primarily using this variant. In total for December at San Francisco International Airport there are plans for ten weekly departures using the type—down compared to last year’s schedule.

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