Summary
- United Airlines strategically deploys widebody jets on short-haul routes attributable to its hub-and-spoke network model, which creates high-demand routes between its major hubs.
- The continuing pilot and staff shortage within the aviation industry makes widebody aircraft more appealing for United, as they require fewer pilots and cabin crew in comparison with narrowbody jets.
- United utilizes short-haul flights as a possibility for maintenance cycles, with South American destinations being ideal for routine maintenance attributable to lower labor costs, and aging widebody jets nearing the top of their service lives.
United Airlines operates the relatively unique practice of consistently deploying its widebody fleet on decidedly short-haul routes inside the US. While the utilization of long-haul jets for transcontinental flights is nothing latest, these routes are actually on the lengthy side for domestic flights, and the spacious interior of widebody jets is usually utilized for premium products. Notably, the transcontinental market is amongst essentially the most lucrative for US airlines.
United Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code
- UA/UAL
- Airline Type
- Full Service Carrier
- 12 months Founded
- 1931
- Alliance
- Star Alliance
- CEO
- Scott Kirby
- Country
- United States
On 8 September, United flew 3 times between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Denver International Airport (DEN) using Boeing 777-200 aircraft, a flight only two and a half hours long. Between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), the airline flew two different services with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. The carrier usually flies flights between their US hubs using widebody aircraft, but why does United decide to fly such large aircraft between short-haul destinations typically served by 737 jets?
Photo: Santi Rodriguez I Shutterstock
Many are sometimes surprised to seek out themselves onboard such a big aircraft for a flight of such short length. Nonetheless, given United’s fleet, network structure, and conditions inside the industry, using these large jets on short routes can prove strategically advantageous. In this text, we’ll break down the highest five reasons for United’s deployment of widebody jets on short-haul routes.
1 The hub and spoke model
United’s network model, which emphasizes connections between its hub airports, creates high-demand “trunk routes” between hubs. United maintains seven hub airports within the continental US, including Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Denver International Airport (DEN).
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
With a hub-and-spoke model, which funnels just about all the carrier’s traffic through its major hubs, there are numerous high-demand, high-frequency hub-to-hub routes. On these flights, only a few travelers are literally starting and ending their journeys, but reasonably connecting through the hubs onto other services. With such high demand for these routes, it’s unsurprising that United seeks to position higher-capacity aircraft on these hub-to-hub connections.
2 A pilot and staff shortage
For years, the business aviation industry has faced an ever-growing pilot shortage. Training pilots is dear and time-consuming, and salaries are simply not competitive enough to draw that many to the sector. Due to this fact, airlines like United, despite paying among the highest salaries within the industry, are still struggling to draw pilots.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock
Because the pandemic, airlines have continued to face staffing shortages, likely brought on by the increased health risk of serving within the skies. Moreover, flight attendant salaries will not be competitive with other industries, and advantages have decreased much more significantly over time. Prior to now two years, staff shortages have been a heavy factor contributing to delays and flight cancelations across airline operations.
In relation to United, staffing and pilot shortages make widebody aircraft more appealing. On a two-hour flight from Denver to San Francisco, the carrier can operate a single 777 service or a pair of Boeing 737 flights. While the previous only requires two pilots, the latter requires a full 4. Moreover, fewer cabin crew employees are required by the widebody. By operating a 777 service, even on a brief route, United can reduce its staff while flying the identical variety of passengers between the carrier’s hub cities.
3 Maintenance cycles
United maintains over 40 different maintenance locations across the globe, and while an aircraft could also be near a technical operations center, it will not be the very best place for repairs to be performed. For instance, flights to South America, corresponding to the carrier’s service from Houston to Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, have prolonged stays on the bottom between overnight flights.
Photo: Abdul N Quraishi – Abs | Shutterstock
With low labor costs in South America, this will turn into the perfect place for the completion of routine maintenance. United’s flights from Newark to Frankfurt are operated by Boeing 777-200 aircraft, each locations with higher labor costs than South American destinations. Due to this fact, these jets are cycled into the carrier’s services to Latin American destinations. Nonetheless, many of the carrier’s South American connections route through Houston.
So, when an aircraft is being cycled into Latin American service, utilizing the jet for a connection between a special hub and Houston might be an excellent option. United Airlines 702, an 8:15 AM service between Newark and Houston, is served by 767-300ER jets and 777-200 jets often coming directly from European service and continuing to Latin American destinations. Boeing 787 aircraft can often be seen flying from San Francisco to Houston with similar itineraries.
4 Outdated onboard products
A few of the widebody aircraft utilized by United for domestic routes are old and unsuitable for among the carrier’s most premium long-haul routes. For example, on most of United’s older 777-200 aircraft, the business class product features eight abreast seating.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Nonetheless, in United’s eyes, the Boeing 777s and 767s, that are mostly the widebodies placed on short-haul domestic routes, are aging. With a fleet average age of 24.3 years, it’s actually fair to say that the airline’s Boeing 777-200s are near the top of their service lives. Due to this fact, while inefficient and never optimized for short-haul flights, the airline has determined that short-haul flights are a worthwhile excuse for its aging widebodies.