United Airlines is planning to ramp up its December schedule
to 3,500 domestic flights a day, the most it’s flown in the U.S. since the
Covid pandemic began, expecting a surge in holiday travel.
The Chicago-based airline’s schedule includes more capacity
to ski and beach destinations, including as many as 195 daily flights to 12 Florida
airports, its most ever. United first announced its expansion of Florida
service last year, part of carriers’ push to serve destinations that give
travelers the ability to physically distance during the pandemic and also avoid
other cities’ limits on travel and other activities.
International travel remains hampered by ever-changing
travel restrictions. The Biden administration, however, has said it plans to
lift Covid-era rules barring many international visitors in early November,
replacing them with vaccine and other requirements.
Airline executives say carriers’ recovery is closely tied to
a drop in case rates. United in September said it trimmed its third-quarter
schedule following the surge in Covid cases and a decline in bookings in late
summer.
United said flight searches on its website and app for
holiday travel are up 16% compared with 2019.
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