United Airlines Celebrates More Than 20 Years in Asia, Looks to Future
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Carrier to Continue its Long Presence in Region with Anticipated Additional Growth in 2006
United Marks Anniversary Saturday at San Francisco International Airport
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/United Airlines, the world's largest transpacific airline, today celebrates more than 20 years of flying from the United States to the Asia-Pacific region and reaffirms its commitment to continued growth in the region.
By April 2006, the company will have expanded its Asia-Pacific service by nearly 15% since October 2004, with new routes and increased capacity, and plans to continue to increase service to and from the region. Expansion to date includes its launch of service between San Francisco and both Ho Chi Minh City and Nagoya, Chicago-Shanghai, Nagoya-Taipei, and additional frequencies between the United States and both Australia and Hong Kong.
"The Asia-Pacific region is among the most important to United, and has some of the fastest-growing economies in the world," said Mark Schwab, vice president-Pacific. "We are proud to have a long history of flying to the region, and our commitment to international growth has never been stronger. We have an exciting year ahead, with the return of our San Francisco-Seoul nonstop service on April 2, and our highly anticipated move to the new Star Alliance terminal at Tokyo's Narita airport in Junewhich will enable smoother connections and faster transit times for our passengers."
To mark the 20-year milestone, United employees in the San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, Feb. 11, will wear traditional costumes representative of various cultures in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the San Francisco team will offer media tours of United's current configurations of the B777 and B747 (including United First(R), United Business(R), Economy Plus(R) and United Economy(R)), as well as the international Red Carpet Club(R)which seats more than 400 customers, the International First Class Lounge and United's "Arrivals" loungethe only one in San Francisco.
United offers more nonstop service from San Francisco to the Asia-Pacific region than any other U.S. carrier, including to:
o Tokyo-Narita (twice-daily serviceone with continuing service to Incheon, Republic of Korea, and the other to Hong Kongas well as connections to Bangkok, Taipei and Singapore)
o Nagoya, Japan (with continuing service to Taipei, Republic of China) Hong Kong (with continuing service to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) Osaka, Japan
o Beijing
o Shanghai, People's Republic of China
o Sydney, Australia (with connection to Melbourne)
As previously announced, United will resume nonstop service from San Francisco to Incheon, Republic of Korea, in early April.
Service
In 2005, United carried more than 5.4 million passengers to/from or within the Asia-Pacific region. United now operates more than 400 flights a week to/from or within the regionincluding service to Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo. The reach of United's network in the region is extended through its Star Alliance relationships with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and Air New Zealand. Star Alliance relationships also make it possible for United customers from the Asia-Pacific to connect on to European carriers' flights to destinations throughout Europe and around the globe. In 2003, United entered into a commercial partnership with Air China that includes codesharing, frequent-flyer benefits and access to airport lounges. Together, the two carriers offer 45 code-share flights between China and the United States. Last year, they expanded the agreement to include cargo.
Presence
Approximately one quarter of United's total capacity is working in the Asia-Pacific region. United's commitment to growth in the region is underscored by its more than 2,300 employees based there, including flight attendant crew domiciles in Tokyo and Hong Kong. More than 260 of United's employees in the Asia-Pacific have more than 20 years of experience with the airline. This is approximately 11% of United's total active staff in the region. The region is also very important to United's cargo division; its business there accounts for approximately 45% of the division's total revenue. Japan, Hong Kong, China and Australia are United Cargo's top four markets in the Pacific. In 2005, United Cargo carried 110,000 tons of freight and mail from the Asia-Pacific to the United Statesa 6% increase over 2004.
Contracts
United's connection to the Asia-Pacific region goes beyond flight service. The carrier has contracts with Korean Air for B747 heavy maintenance and with Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corporation (Ameco Beijing) for B777 maintenance. United Services carries out specialized maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) and engine overhauls for Korean Air and Air China. United also performs line maintenance for Japan Airlines (JAL), ANA, Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), Asiana, China Southern, Singapore and Vietnam Airlines, among others. Some of these relationships date back more than 10 years. In addition to MRO work, United Services Flight Training recently announced it has become the first provider outside of China to be certified under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to provide "type rating training" for PRC pilots.
Awards
In 2005, United was named "Best Transpacific Airline" in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards, "Best North American Airline" by Business Traveller Asia Pacific, "Best North American Airline" by TTG Asia and "Best American Airline serving China" in the inaugural Business Traveller China travel poll.
About United
United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAUA) operates more than 3,400 flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 200 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United is also a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 790 destinations in 138 countries worldwide. United's 57,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com/ .
Worldwide Press Office
Days: 847.700.5538
Evenings/Weekends: 847.700.4088
Source: United Airlines
CONTACT: United Airlines Worldwide Press Office, Days, +1-847-700-5538, or Evenings-Weekends: +1-847-700-4088
Web site: http://www.united.com/
