United triples its August schedule
The skies are beginning to clear for the airlines.
United Airlines is tripling the size of its August schedule. The carrier announced Wednesday it is adding nearly 25,000 domestic and international flights.
Prompting that move: United says customers are “slowly returning to flying,” showing a preference for leisure destinations. And so, the company plans to add more than 350 daily flights from its U.S. hubs next month. That includes more flights to destinations boasting popular national parks and mountains such as Aspen, Colorado, Bangor Maine and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Its international schedule includes a return to Tahiti.
Despite the boost, the new plan will amount to just less than half of its August schedule last year.
Still, investors were encouraged - United shares rose 10% in early trading Wednesday. Shares of rivals Delta and American also ascended.
With demand returning for air travel, American Airlines said last week it would no longer restrict the number of seats sold on flights. United is also selling flights to capacity.
