United Airlines
has become one of the world’s largest carriers. In recent years, the carrier has invested heavily in its fleet, network, and customer experience to create a more premium brand and reputation in the marketplace.
As part of its efforts to improve, the Chicago-based carrier has expanded its route network to include more exotic and exciting destinations for passengers. More recently, United announced the restoration of service between Houston and Edmonton. Though not as exotic as some of its routes, this service resumption promises to deliver value to both destinations.
United resumes Edmonton service
United will resume service to Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, from its hub at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
. The airline used to connect these two cities with a nonstop flight as recently as 2020, but it was suspended when the Coronavirus pandemic virtually eliminated demand for international travel.
Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) reported that the new service will resume at the end of May 2025. It will run four times weekly, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. According to Cirium, an aviation data analytics company, United will deploy its 126-seat Airbus A319
on the route. In June 2025, the first full month of service, the carrier will offer a total of 4,284 seats across 34 flights.
Though starting with a four-times-weekly service, the frequency of this new route will eventually return to daily in November 2025. Still using the A319, the carrier will offer 60 flights and 7,560 available seats. Though this is a notable expansion for United, the Edmonton service will still have a smaller schedule than March 2020, before the service was axed due to the pandemic.
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Before the health crisis, the carrier offered 9,026 seats across 64 flights. Unlike the new service, United used a variety of aircraft types between Houston and Edmonton. Its most-used aircraft on the route was the Boeing 737-700, which operated over half of the flights.
Related
Why Hasn’t American Or United Airlines Ordered The Airbus A319neo or A320neo?
American Airlines and United Airlines both operate aging Airbus A319s and A320s. While Delta Air Lines also has both aircraft types in its fleet, the carrier’s newer A220-100s and -300s will likely replace them once they are fully retired. Airbus has also developed the A319neo and A320neo which are the next generations of the aircraft, but American or United have not shown interest.
Why not? The carriers have several orders for the 737 MAX 8s and 9s, which have around the same capacity as the A320, if not more, but they are larger than the A319. What do you make of this?
Helping to connect Houston and Edmonton
According to The Houston Business Journal, Edmonton’s role in Canada’s energy industry makes direct service to Houston a good choice for both cities. With Houston considered an American “energy hub,” a direct connection between the two cities will benefit companies and employees in both countries.
Photo: CaseyMartin | Shutterstock
Houston also serves as United’s primary gateway to Latin America. By offering this service, the carrier can connect Canadian passengers to services beyond the United States. Though it already serves Calgary from its Texas hub, this new service will enhance convenience for passengers traveling to and from northern Alberta.
Trans-border rivalry heats up
Another new United route from Edmonton has sparked a turf war with one of the carrier’s Canadian rivals. In the past few weeks, low-cost airline WestJet
announced a new direct service from Edmonton to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
, United’s home airport.
Photo: Heather Dunbar | Shutterstock
United responded by adding its own service between the two cities, slated to begin in May 2025- just before WestJet’s planned service. Both carriers will serve the routes on the same days and around the same times, with the service operating thrice weekly.