UAL Boosts Transpacific Service, Sells London Route

United Airlines today said it will add 40 weekly flights to Asia/Pacific destinations during the next nine months from international gateways in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. "This move solidifies United's position as the world's largest transpacific passenger carrier," the carrier said in a statement.

United also said it will sell its New York-London route authority to Delta Air Lines. Through the deal, which is subject to U.S. Department of Transportation approval, Delta for the first time will operate daily roundtrip flights between its New York-JFK hub and London's Gatwick Airport. "The first daily roundtrip flight would begin later this year with a second flight beginning in spring 2007," the carrier said.

While abandoning its London route, United is putting greater focus on the Asian market. New or expanded service includes flights between Washington Dulles and Tokyo, as well as between San Francisco and Taipei, Seoul and Hong Kong.