Member Article

United Airlines to launch nonstop service between Newcastle and New York

United Airlines will introduce non stop flights between Newcastle and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, during the period May 23 to Sep. 7, 2015 (both dates westbound), subject to government approval.

The frequency of the service will be five times weekly. It will be Newcastle’s first scheduled nonstop transAtlantic service.

Flight UA159 will depart Newcastle daily except Wednesday and Thursday at 9:10 a.m., arriving at New York/Newark at 12:00 p.m. the same day.

The return flight, UA160, will depart New York/Newark daily except Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:20 p.m., arriving in Newcastle at 7:30 a.m. the following day (all times local).

Flight times will be seven hours 50 minutes westbound and seven hours 10 minutes eastbound.

The flights will be operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats, 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

United’s managing director of U.K. & Ireland sales, Bob Schumacher, said: “We’re very excited about introducing nonstop flights to New York from Newcastle next summer.”

“We’ll be offering the people of Northeast England easy, convenient travel options not only to New York City but also to destinations throughout the Americas.

“United already offers trans-Atlantic service from more cities in the U.K. than any other airline and we’ve every reason to be confident that this new service will be a success.”

Chief Executive of Newcastle Airport, David Laws, said: “For many years, and everywhere I go, people have been stopping me and asking, when is the North East going to get a New York service?

“I have been clear throughout that this is a route that we have been determined to deliver for the region.

“We have been carefully and quietly working behind the scenes, with our shareholders, to secure what will be another game-changing new route.

“I am delighted today that we are finally able to make the announcement everyone has been hoping for. United Airlines is the best airline to operate this service.

“They have an exceptional track record of linking U.K. regions to their New York/Newark hub, where customers can then connect to over one hundred onward destinations.”

Leader of South Tyneside Council and lead of the LA7 shareholders, Councillor Iain Malcolm, said: “On behalf of the Local Authority shareholders, I am delighted that the collective efforts we have been making have been successful.

“This new service will be hugely significant, in terms of further enhancing regional connectivity, growing the regional economy, attracting inward investment and encouraging inbound tourism from North America.

“The Local Authorities and our partner organisations will work hard to make the route a success.

“We will work with inbound tourism bodies to promote the region to a new audience and we will work with the business community to increase awareness of the connectivity opened up.”

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