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- United Airlines has cut several domestic routes from its headquarters at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, impacting service to the U.S. West Coast.
- The airline had planned to open new routes in January, but the plans were abruptly cancelled, resulting in the loss of more than 17,000 seats in January and nearly 22,000 in February.
- In addition to its routes from Chicago, United Airlines also eliminated flights from New York Stewart International Airport and reduced flights to Dulles International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, resulting in 15,000 fewer flights in January. More than just seats were lost.
Chicago, Illinois-based airline United Airlines has cut several domestic routes. Routes mainly depart from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where the company’s headquarters is located, and head to the West Coast of the United States. Some of these routes are scheduled to launch in January this year.
Domestic routes from O’Hare abolished
United Airlines was planning to launch several new routes this winter. Starting January 9, the airline was scheduled to begin service from Chicago O’Hare to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Spokane International Airport (GEG), and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO). All three routes were previously operated by United Airlines. However, service to these three airports ended in September 2022, as they are typically seasonal routes.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flight
However, according to data provided by Cirium, the airline appears to have halted the launch of the service. Prior to this week, United operated a total of 138 flights from O’Hare to these three airports in January and 174 flights to those three airports in February. However, as of today, all of these flights have been removed from United’s schedule. In January alone, he had 23 flights to and from each of these three destinations. This is a loss of more than 17,000 seats in January and nearly 22,000 seats in February.
Based on Cirium’s data, the airline is aiming to begin operations in March next year. However, the airline is still operating fewer flights than originally planned. United estimated 186 flights in March, 180 in April and 186 in May between those three airports. However, the airline plans to offer 50 flights in March and 60 flights in April. United plans to offer 182 flights in May, cutting just four flights from that month, in an effort to meet its original forecast. Overall, this will remove 17,000 seats in March, 15,000 seats in April and just 500 seats in May from these three routes.
other routes removed
In addition to cutting routes from its Chicago O’Hare hub, United Airlines has also eliminated some flights from Sacramento International Airport (SMF). The route cut from Sacramento was a regional route between Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Dulles, Virginia, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey.
Currently, United Airlines operates 122 flights a month from Sacramento to Dulles and Newark. In October alone, the airline will fly 21,000 seats to these destinations.
Photo: United Airlines
However, the airline plans to discontinue service to those two destinations from Sacramento early next year, according to Cirium data. Specifically, the number of flights operated from January 8th onwards will be reduced.
United was expected to operate 116 flights between the two locations in January, 116 in February and 124 in March. These services are believed to have carried 18,000, 19,000 and 20,500 passengers, respectively.
At this time, United Airlines will operate only 24 flights in January, serving approximately 3,500 passengers, and will cease service on these routes on January 8th. The airline will lose more than 15,000 seats on these three routes in January.
United Airlines did not respond to requests for comment.