United grows Pacific flights on demand for long-haul travel
United Airlines announced plans on Wednesday to expand its service to key Pacific destinations, including Thailand and Vietnam, signaling confidence in long-haul international travel even as domestic demand shows signs of slowing.
The airline will soon launch new routes to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, along with daily fall service from Hong Kong. With these additions, United will operate flights from the U.S. to 32 cities across the Pacific region.
While many U.S. carriers are scaling back domestic operations to protect profit margins in the face of softer demand and economic uncertainty—exacerbated by trade tensions and reduced corporate and government travel—long-haul international travel continues to shine.
United recently reported an 8% year-over-year increase in spring international bookings, highlighting the continued appetite for global travel. Other major airlines, including American Airlines and Air Canada, are also ramping up their transatlantic offerings.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, emphasized that the Pacific expansion does not come at the expense of other routes.