United Airlines Launches New Route to Europe, Expands Flight Options to Outdoor Destinations in North America

Great news for those dreaming of summer getaways filled with white-sand beaches, ancient ruins, delicious tzatziki, and exquisite Greek wines: Traveling to Greece is now more accessible.

United Airlines has announced seasonal nonstop flights connecting Chicago O’Hare International Airport with Athens International Airport, set to commence on May 28 and continue until August 18, 2024.

These daily flights will depart Chicago at 4:35 p.m. (local time) and arrive in Athens at 10:50 a.m. the next day after a 10-hour and 15-minute journey. The return flights will leave Athens at 12:45 p.m. (local time) and touch down in Chicago at 4:25 p.m. (local time), following an 11-hour and 40-minute flight. As of now, round-trip economy tickets for the Chicago-Athens route start at $1,839, while business class seats are priced at $9,469 for a round trip on United.com.

The flights will be operated using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which includes 28 Polaris business class lie-flat seats (a favorite among Dinogo staff), 21 Premium Plus recliners, 36 Economy Plus seats, and 158 standard economy seats.

“We are excited to introduce a thrilling new destination for our customers departing from Chicago O’Hare with our summer service to Athens,” stated Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, in a press release.

Alongside the launch of Chicago flights, United will also resume its seasonal service connecting Athens with Washington Dulles International Airport (starting April 14 and ending December 3) and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (beginning March 30 and concluding October 25). Overall, the airline will boost its flights between the United States and Athens by 25 percent compared to last year. American Airlines is currently the only other airline offering a route from Chicago to Athens.

In addition to Athens, United will continue its nonstop service from Chicago to 14 other European destinations, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Reykjavik, Shannon, and Zurich. No other U.S. airline operates as many international routes from Chicago.

United to increase flights by over 100 across North America

In the U.S. and Canada, United has announced the addition of over 100 new flights this summer. Many of these flights will be extra departures to popular outdoor destinations already served by United, including:

• Chicago to Aspen, Colorado; Bozeman, Montana; and Montreal and Toronto
• Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Antonio
• Denver to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Vail, Colorado
• Houston to Boston, Charleston, Miami, and Tampa

Bozeman, Montana, serves as a key gateway to Yellowstone National Park, while the Kalispell airport in Montana is a popular entry point for Glacier National Park. Additionally, Aspen and Vail in Colorado, along with Sun Valley in Idaho, are renowned mountain resort destinations.

“We understand that travelers are eager to explore the outdoors this summer,” Quayle remarked regarding the new flights. “By adding nonstop routes to locations that previously required multiple connections and enhancing our partnerships with airlines like Air Canada, we’re providing customers with numerous options to discover new adventures.”

Additionally, the airline announced plans to introduce or resume eight routes to and from Canada and Alaska for the first time since the pandemic, including:

• Nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare to Winnipeg, Manitoba; service resumes in May 2024
• Nonstop flights from Chicago O’Hare to Québec City, Canada; service resumes in May 2024
• Year-round nonstop service from Denver to Winnipeg resumes on May 23
• Daily seasonal nonstop flights from Denver to Fairbanks, Alaska, begin on May 23
• Nonstop service from Houston Intercontinental to Ontario, Canada; resumes in May 2024
• Seasonal nonstop service from Newark Liberty to Halifax, Nova Scotia; resumes on May 23
• Daily seasonal nonstop service from Washington Dulles to Vancouver, British Columbia; starts May 23
• Daily seasonal nonstop flights from Washington Dulles to Anchorage, Alaska; begin on May 23