United Airlines has added non-stop flights to Marrakesh in Morocco and Cebu in Philippines and will fly non-stop to Medellin in Colombia for the first time in its history. It has also increased frequency to Portugal, Hong Kong and South Korea, along with resumption of Los Angeles-Shanghai service.

Illinois-based United Airlines has announced an expansion of its global route network, adding new non-stop flights from its hub in Newark to Marrakesh in Morocco, while extending its flight to Tokyo to Cebu in Philippines and launch flight from Houston to Medellin in Colombia. 

According to a press statement by United, it will also increase its frequency to popular destinations across the globe including Hong Kong, Seoul in South Korea and Porto in Portugal. Additionally, the airline will add four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai as the Chinese and US governments recently agreed to increase flights between the two countries.

With this, United becomes the largest and most diversified international route network among US airlines, offering non-stop service to 134 international destinations across 67 countries. United offers flights to more destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific than all US carriers combined, adds the statement.

It says that United has also added off-the-beaten-path locales around the globe, including flights to nine destinations that no other carriers serve from the mainland US, like Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Christchurch in New Zealand and Dubrovnik in Croatia.

‘‘We have consistently been ahead of the curve in finding hidden gem destinations for our customers to explore and remain committed to providing the most unique slate of travel options for their adventures abroad. With our leading global network and elevated inflight experience, United has become the airline of choice for discerning customers looking for experiences they can’t have with any other carrier,” says Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances.

New York/Newark-Marrakesh, Morocco

United says that from next winter, it will have the most flights to the most destinations in Africa from metropolitan New York, and will be the only airline to directly connect the United States and Marrakesh, with new service from New York/Newark, launching October 24. The flight will be offered three times weekly on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with 46 United Polaris business class and 22 United Premium Plus seats to provide options for an elevated travel experience. This new service further expands United’s presence in Africa, building on the airline’s existing service to Accra in Ghana, Lagos in Nigeria and Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.

Tokyo/Narita-Cebu, Philippines

United has expanded to the Philippines with new year-round, non-stop service from Tokyo-Narita, starting July 31. United will be the only US carrier to fly to Cebu with daily flights on 737-800 aircraft, which will have convenient connections from United’s flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Newark-New York, and Houston to Tokyo-Narita. United is the only US carrier to offer transpacific service to the Philippines with its daily flights between San Francisco and Manila, and also flies to Manila from Guam and Palau.

Houston-Medellin, Colombia

For the first time ever, United will fly non-stop to Medellin in Colombia with daily service from Houston on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning October 27. This new route expands United’s presence in Colombia, complementing existing service from Houston and Newark to Bogota. In total, United will serve 52 destinations in Latin America from Houston.

The statement adds that United is also adding new flights to its mainland China schedule, with four weekly flights between Shanghai-Los Angeles on a Boeing 787-9, starting August 29. Further, in late October, Shanghai-Los Angeles will increase to daily service, complementing United’s daily service between San Francisco-Shanghai and San Francisco-Beijing. This enhanced service is enabled by the agreement between the governments of the US and China to increase flights between the two countries.

The airline says it is adding more flights to Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. United will launch its second daily Los Angeles-Hong Kong flight on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft on October 26, complementing its two existing daily flights to Hong Kong from San Francisco. The airline will also offer year-round, twice daily flights between San Francisco-Seoul, starting October 25. Additionally, United recently expanded its Tokyo service with a new route between Haneda and Guam, launching in May.

The statement adds that across the Atlantic, United will add a second daily flight between New York/Newark-Porto, Portugal on a Boeing 757-200, starting May 23. United has more flights to Portugal than all US carriers combined and is the only US carrier to serve Porto.