Chicago-based United Airlines has determined that Boston was its most popular destination among its extensive domestic network. The carrier’s domestic operation in the New England city has not changed much since last summer. However, it has since pulled its only international route from Boston, leaving its service to connect solely to all seven of its US-based hubs.
Despite losing one route, the airline expanded by nearly 20 flights compared to last summer. The smallest of the big 3 United confirmed that it carried a record-breaking 48 million passengers this past summer in its Summer Travel Receipt, obtained by aviation geek Jason Rabinowitz on Friday. It considered Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) its most popular domestic airport throughout the season, although the date periods or range of months are not exactly clear.
The carrier’s network is smaller than that of its two legacy competitors, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The former, along with its regional brand American Eagle, offers regularly scheduled service to 21 destinations. Atlanta-based Delta – which operates a hub at BOS – has the largest network, with service to more than 50 destinations.
What’s the metric? Nonetheless, United’s network was reportedly robust compared to that of its other domestic destinations. Leslie Scott, United’s Managing Director of Global Response and Corporate Communications, told Rabinowitz that the metric determining the statistic is the exclusion of its hubs. “When crunching those numbers, we exclude hub cities.
” Inside the numbers: More than 2,300 flights According to aviation data and analytics company Cirium, United operated a total of 2,354 flights at BOS in July to its following hubs: Denver International Airport (DEN), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). United operated a total of 538 flights between BOS and EWR during the month, which was more than any other destination. The airline utilized the Airbus A319, Boeing 737-700, -900ER, MAX 8, and MAX 9 on the route.
Among its regional operation, Republic Airlines deployed the Embraer E170 and E175 under the United Express brand. In total, United offered 82,400 seats on the route. The aircraft flew to its final resting place in Arizona.
Flights between BOS and ORD came in second, with a total of 456 throughout July. United used the A319, A320, 737-700 -800, -900ER, MAX 8, and MAX 9 on the route. The 737-800 handled the most flights, at 165, followed by the Boeing 737 MAX 9 , which was scheduled on 127 flights.
In total, United offered 73,521 seats between BOS and ORD. 378 frequencies were scheduled between BOS and DEN. United utilized the same aircraft types as the two aforementioned routes, except for the 737-700.
The 737-800 was the most frequent aircraft on the route, performing 143 frequencies, followed by the A320, which handled 68 flights. More than 62,400 seats were offered on the route throughout July. There were 310 flights between BOS and SFO, which provided about 55,400 seats.
More than 46,100 seats were offered across 300 frequencies between BOS and IAH. United performed a total of 248 flights on the BOS-IAD route, which provided nearly 43,000 seats, while BOS-LAX had nearly 22,200 seats across a total of 124 flights in July. United performed 2,336 flights at BOS during the same period last year, meaning the carrier only flew 18 more flights this year.
Its summer 2023 operation included regular service to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which was its only international destination. However, the carrier pulled the route in October 2023 after launching it in April 2022. Interestingly, United named LHR as its most popular international destination this summer.
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