CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch a new daily roundtrip flight between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
If approved, this route will offer customers more nonstop options between DCA and SFO and provide connections from SFO to around two dozen domestic markets in the Western U.S. and seven international destinations.
United Washington to San Francisco Flight
Currently, at least nine of these destinations lack United connection options to DCA via San Francisco. Additionally, the proposed route aims to avoid the peak travel times at DCA, one of the most congested airports in the country.
“With our hub in San Francisco, United is well positioned to meet the strong demand for air travel between Washington National and the Bay Area,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines.
If approved by the DOT, this new service will offer customers a unique morning departure from Washington National and a unique afternoon departure from San Francisco, enhancing connectivity for both domestic and international travelers via SFO.”
United Airlines’ proposed flight aims to avoid peak travel times at DCA, offering customers new scheduling options with a morning departure from DCA to SFO and an afternoon departure from SFO to DCA for the first time.
United plans to deploy Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which has 150 economy seats and 166 total seats.
Commercial Hub
The Washington, D.C. region is a major commercial hub, home to over 15 Fortune 500 companies and numerous emerging technology firms, including those focused on AI and data sciences. It also hosts the U.S. Federal Government and global institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and over 100 foreign embassies and consulates.
California, like Washington, D.C., is a significant center for innovation and business, boasting the highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the country. Its economy, the fifth largest in the world at $3.9 trillion in 2023, grew by 6.1% from the previous year, reflecting its robust growth.
San Francisco and its surrounding areas are home to over 30 Fortune 500 companies, including Airbnb, Apple, Alphabet, Chevron, Gap, Visa, and Wells Fargo.
United Airlines offers a comprehensive global network from San Francisco, serving over 60 domestic and 30 international destinations, with an average of 240 daily departures and more than 12,000 employees in the Bay Area.
As an alternative to the additional DCA-SFO flight, United has also applied for its first-ever DCA-Los Angeles (LAX) flight. This proposed LAX route, operated with the 737 MAX 8 aircraft, would foster healthy competition with three other airlines currently serving the route.
It would provide greater flexibility and schedule choice for customers, offering the earliest arrival in LAX and the latest morning departure to DCA among all airlines.
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