United Airlines is adding capacity to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) for CES 2022. The major tech conference draws people from various sectors and serves as a bellwether for business travel. Responding to demand, United has announced that it is adding 14 new direct flights to Las Vegas in early January for the event and adding 30 flights from its other hubs.
United adds capacity to Las Vegas
In response to business d757emand, United Airlines has announced a schedule boost out of Las Vegas, including service to new destinations, in early January. The airline will be increasing capacity by 37% compared to the usual schedule the airline flies to Las Vegas in January.
United Airlines will fly 81 flights into Las Vegas during the peak arrival days ahead of the show on January 3rd and 4th. It will fly 109 flights on the peak departure days between January 8th and 10th. Below are the following new flights:
- Eight new direct flights from San Jose International Airport (SJC)
- Six new direct flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Six new direct flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Six new direct flights from Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- 15 additional flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Eight additional flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Five additional flights from Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Two additional flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Ankit Gupta, senior vice president of Domestic Planning and United Express, stated the following on the expanded capacity:
“The return of in-person conferences and events is a very positive sign in the pandemic recovery, and United is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this increase in demand. We’re adding about 80% of the capacity we did for CES in 2020, demonstrating that business travel is on the rebound and our customers are eager to reunite with clients and colleagues.”
A wide mix of aircraft
United is going big with capacity. Flights between SJC and LAS around CES 2022 will include operations by the Airbus A320, Boeing 737 MAX 9, and the large Boeing 757-300. FLL will see operations on a Boeing 737-900ER. BOS will also see the MAX 9. Orlando passengers will see some flights on the airline’s swanky Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Nine flights from San Francisco will be on larger aircraft. This includes aircraft like the Boeing 757-300, but also some service on Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, featuring a lie-flat business class product for the short flight. Four flights from Los Angeles will be on larger aircraft. Like San Francisco, LAX will also see Boeing 777-200ER service, in addition to flights on the 737 MAX 9 and 757-300. Newark will also see Boeing 777 service.
Ultimately, what is clear is that United sees a business case for adding a lot of extra seats for this event. The airline stated that, between October 27th and November 9th, searches on the airline’s website for flights to Las Vegas during CES 2022 were up 70% compared to the prior two-week period, indicating continued strong demand for flights.
Business travel is coming back
United Airlines has been bullish about the return of business travel. The carrier’s survey of its corporate customers found that nearly 20% of those surveyed expected travel to meetings and conferences to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022. This is one of the more optimistic results from some recent business travel surveys airlines have cited.
American Airlines has similarly taken a bullish stance on the return of business travel. The airline is expecting a full recovery in business travel in 2022. Emirates has placed similar confidence in the return of these lucrative travelers. Business customers are the high-yield travelers where airlines earn the most revenue.
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