United Goes Seasonal in Scandinavia

US major United Airlines is to switch its remaining transatlantic flights to Scandinavia to a seasonal offering after dropping winter services from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub to both Oslo and Stockholm from the start of September this year through to May 2016. The two routes are flown using Boeing 757-200 equipment on an up to daily basis.

The two routes, as well as a Newark – Copenhagen offering, were inherited by United Airlines when it merged with Continental Airlines and were all markets that have been served for many years on a year-round basis. United quickly closed the Newark – Copenhagen route from September 2012 but has continued to serve the Norwegian and Swedish capital cities.

However, in its latest schedule update the airline has removed winter schedules for the two routes and will suspend the flights from September 5, 2015 through to May 4, 2016. United operates alongside Star Alliance partner SAS Scandinavian Airlines on these two routes, while indirect competition comes from a seasonal Delta link between New York JFK and Stockholm, and more recently from low-cost carrier Norwegian between both Oslo and Stockholm and New York JFK.

In our analysis we look at United’s estimated average air fares on the two routes over the past couple of years. The data highlights the higher fares being charged during the summer months and the peak fares in June on each of the routes.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…