United looks to build on Dubrovnik success


United Airlines resumed its seasonal service between Newark and Dubrovnik yesterday evening as the carrier looks to improve on its solid results achieved during its inaugural year in 2021. Over the four months of operations last year, the carrier handled 17.264 passengers on the route, registering an average cabin load factor of 77.9%, along with 405 tons of cargo. Unlike in 2021, United no longer faces competition from Delta Air Lines, which welcomed 18.204 travellers over the same period on its New York JFK - Dubrovnik service, recording an average cabin occupancy rate of 75.5%.

United Airlines Dubrovnik performance, 2021


The first flight of the year from Newark, which is due to land in the Croatian coastal city this morning, has been sold out in business class with a few seats remaining in economy. Similarly, the return service, which is scheduled for tomorrow, has a high load factor. United’s Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, has said the Dubrovnik flights were launched in response to Croatia maintaining open borders to American citizens and residents throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and has performed strongly as a result. “We started in a few new markets in Europe last year. In fact, we loaded those for sale very late. And those new markets were actually some of our top performing city fares, because Croatia and Greece in particular, made it clear to the world that they were open for business. And in fact, our customers responded to it immediately, and our new flights degrees did incredibly well”, Mr Nocella said.

The General Manager of Dubrovnik Airport, Frano Luetić, recently noted, “Flights from the US performed well above our expectations. These incoming tourists stay in Dubrovnik, which serves as a base for them to explore other places - nearby islands and Dalmatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, these flights are important as they have enabled cargo transport to the United States. As a result, each aircraft departs with around ten tons of exportable goods to the States”. United is maintaining four weekly flights to Dubrovnik this summer with its Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which has the capacity to seat 214 passengers, of which thirty are in business and the remaining 184 seats in the economy cabin. The service will run until September 28. This year, Brussels Airlines is codesharing on the route.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:10

    Those are excellent results for the first year, especially since tickets went on sale just a month before the flights started.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:11

    They will do even better this year with no Delta around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      I'm curious as to why Delta didn't come back. They seemed to have done rather well too on this route.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      Maybe financially it didn't work for them... or they needed planes for routes that bring more revenue.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      American carriers are discontinuing flights if they are not making (enough) money for them. Seems like the market wasn't large enough for both of them to make money.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:25

      It seems it was large enough to sustain one of the largest airlines in the world. Great work.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:27

      Yes, that is why the other massive carrier decided to suspend flights as yields weren't there despite countless connecting possibilities via their hub in the US.
      It never made sense for DBV to have two US carriers from the same market. This is not ATH or VCE.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:28

      And you know the exact reason they didn't come back? They called you to inform you?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:30

      Leave it, some people can't keep their jelousy intact.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:39

      Stating facts is jealousy now? You need to get a reality check and to realize that having two US carriers from the same market to an airport that barely handles 3 million passengers before covid was too much. DL not coming back is proof of that.

      Unless you think DL didn't come back because they didn't have a plane that was premium heavy enough for DBV. lol

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:42

      Yet you don't have the facts...

      Delete
    10. Anonymous09:46

      FYI Delta is cancelling 100 flights per day this summer

      Delete
    11. Anonymous09:49

      They also didn't resume Shannon, Glasgow, Berlin and Malaga from last summer.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous11:15

      Anon 09:39

      Lets make a difference between having enough potential for two airlines and sustaining airlines on the market because these two are not the same.

      Delta never announced flights for any other season in Dubrovnik other tha 2021. And reason for that is their coming in Dubrovnik was only because in 2021. there were a lot of restrictions around the world so they had spare capacity. But when they flew to Dubrovnik they had quite good LF and even number of flights grew between two markets despite some thought there is no way in Dubrovnik will be more then 2-3 weakly flights. When restrictions were cut Delta simply returned to these far more profitabile routes, but that still doesnt mean they didmt make profit or didnt have enough passengers.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous12:33

      +1 let's not forget Delta increased frequencies to DBV

      Delete
    14. Anonymous14:05

      Actually, United increased frequencies last year. Delta kept 4pw from announcement

      Delete
    15. @An.09.20 "maybe financially it didn't work for them" and related to it, which part of today's article sentence "the first flight has been sold out in business class" you didn't understand?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous07:18

      DL and AA retired their 757 and 767 fleets right after covid and now with delays in 787 deliveries they are struggling with long haul routes. On the other hand UA is winning with their old 767 fleet and they just recently got clearance for reintroducing their 777-200s that were parked since 2020.
      Once DL and AA stabilize wide bodies, they will most likely fly to DBV again.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:13

    Wait their plane sits in Dubrovnik for over 24 hours before the return flight??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      Crew rest

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:18

      Only today because it's the first flight of the season and they have no crew to do the return flight so they need to give them minimum rest and then the same crew will do the return

      Delete
    3. In that case they should have flown to DBV the second set of crew as well, which will operate the next DBV to EWR. Otherwise the situation is the same. So probably they did. However, usually companies send the crew that operates the first return flight as passengers on commercial flight day or two before the first return flight. Tickets, hotel accommodation, and per diem expenses if any, are usually much cheaper than having plane out of service for 24 hours, in normal circumstances. But today, with unutilized fleets and lack of crew, it's highly likely

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:28

      They did fly a 2nd crew for the 2nd return flight

      Delete
    5. Thanks for confirmation @An.20. 28. I thought it was the case 😃

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:18

    What is the point of Brussels Airlines' code share on this route??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      It is rather odd. Who would fly EWR-DBV-BRU?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:36

      Yet Croatia Airlines didn't even consider it. Typical.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:55

      Regarding OU it doesn't matter since OU is in Star Alliance passengers get the same benefits as if there was a codeshare.

      Delete
    4. Vlad23:12

      You obviously don't understand how alliances/codeshares work. The two are completely unrelated.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:21

    Welcome back United!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Delta Airlines19:46

      Best luck United, see you maybe next year

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:24

    Let's hope next year they will fly the entire season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      I would rather they introduce a second Croatian destination next year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:02

      It's impossible because the runways from BWK, SPU, ZAD, RJK are too short, but ZAG and PUY are not going to be a good destination for UA if they would start them

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:30

      Why wouldn't ZAG work for UA?

      Delete
    4. Because there is no demand from ZAG to anywhere and to ZAG from anywhere and because croatians don't travel by plane LOL

      Delete
    5. And because there is no croatian diaspora in the USA, especially East coast, and because almost no tourists come from the USA to visit Zagreb, they all just go to swim in the sea, which is btw much colder than in Greece LOL again

      Delete
    6. Anonymous19:47

      There is so much demand between US and ZAG that no airline flies between them

      Delete
    7. At least 30 daily flights from ZAG to all european destinations on various airlines have more transfer passengers to the USA then P2P passengers to european destinations. Demand is there and is covered by one stop traffic, because politicians in Croatia and "managers" of OU were bribed to let long haul market, primarily USA, to LH and its partners

      Delete
    8. Anonymous02:13

      With this insane demand that you speak of, i would think that at least one of the big 3 airlines of the US would be already operating to ZAG after all these years. Or were they blocked by OU?

      Delete
    9. I never said demand is insane. I never said ZAG would have transatlantic traffic on the levels of FRA, LHR, AMS, FCO or CDG. But demand exists which some people deny. Also that demand can be, or better said could have been created and multiplied, thanks to croatian coast and its tourism, croatian immigration from the entire Croatia and Slovenia, and the entire Balkans "behind" by creating propper hub in ZAG,which has potential for one to two daily flights to NA in winter and five to six flights in summer. If such strategy had been created and enforced, and if range of destinations from ZAG by its home carrier were much bigger, not only that OU would have flights to the US, similar to what JU is doing, but some of the USB3 would have been in ZAG as well, probably UA because of * membership. Once again, I never said demand to NA is insane, but it exists and both transfer passengers, Canadian carriers with nonstop seasonal flights and US nonstops to DBV prove that. And yes, OU did block even US carriers to come to ZAG because is not offering them enough transfer potential in addition to P2P demand which is there

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:32

    Really happy to see the new flights worked out for United. Although I do hope they change the plane type to the Dreamliners eventually l.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:56

      Their B767s are quite good. The ones going to DBV have 1-1-1 configuration in business.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:49

    DL from ATL would have been better if they were to come back.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:53

    What is a typical price for round trip usa-dbv? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:56

      Check their website.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:34

      Expensive

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11:22

    Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Especially Bravo Croatia Airlines as flag carrier of Rvacka! Zivijo Adeze!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:10

      Dear POZDRAV ..... some tangible proofs please , not just another empty words !!! And whenever you find them please as I have said go to an attorney or to the police and stop being boring all day long !!!

      Delete
    3. Svatko se cese gdje ga svrbi. Zakucat ce na vrata, brzo, bez brige 😃

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:33

      Same old ,same old POZDRAV , also in the croatian language ! BORING !!! Bring us some proof first !

      Delete
    5. Ne znam da li ce bit u uniformama ili u civilu, ali dolaze, dolaze, prije ili kasnije, nicija nije gorjela do zore...

      Delete
    6. Anonymous00:33

      And who is coming sooner or later ?!! Please POZDRAV write those nonsence in english so everybody can lough also internationally !!!Ahahahaha !!!

      Delete
    7. I would rather not write in English nonsenCe to you, because of what I have just mentioned stressing capital letter. Therefore, in croatian, tko se zadnji smije, najsladje se smije. A momci i cure u plavom ce pokucat na vrata svima vama iz Zlocinacke, koji ste nam unistili zemlju, prije ili kasnije

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:50

      YES !!! As I was always expecting !!! Another NONSENSE !!!

      Delete
    9. A ja se na to mogu samo LOUGH, with O

      Delete
    10. Anonymous23:34

      Of course , and all the others lough at you !!!

      Delete
    11. The only one, people here can laugh at, is you, for hailing Bravo to criminal organisation with final verdict, which did more harm to Croatia and its people than war and all foreign rules before. In addition, all those others who lAugh at me, exist in your head only, but even if they really existed, and really laughed at me, similar kind laughed at other people as well, Nikola Tesla, for example. And frankly speaking, I don't expect sandwich eaters to understand me, however I do understand they have to laugh at me and try to annule everything I write in order to earn their sandwiches

      Delete
    12. Anonymous01:36

      Comparing yourself with Tesla okay........ one more reason to lough at you !

      Delete
    13. I did not compare myself with Tesla. I just said there are many stupid people around who don't understand what's going on around. And those, I understand. I don't understand those don't understanding what's going on around and spitting on others who understand

      Delete
    14. Anonymous10:10

      Sorry but you have no proof of what you understand or don't ! Next time !

      Delete
    15. And what proof you gave for your claims? Evidence is submitted to the Court only. Asking evidence and proofs to be presented on the blog is just another confirmation you are the one who should be laughed at. And all these just to draw off attention from criminal activities so widespread in OU and entire country and destroyed by Adeze Criminal Organization

      Delete
    16. Anonymous12:53

      POZDRAV ......... PROVE IT !!!!

      Delete
    17. There is no need to scream and yell, it is not polite. But I understand completely why are you very upset, maybe you are the next whose doors will be knocked at. And just btw : you prove it is not, if you can! But you cannot, because they have final verdict of being criminal organization.

      Delete
    18. And this is my last post on this topic. I have no intention further explaining anything else to anyone belonging to groups of either sandwich eaters, or toothless criminal organization voters, or blackshirt chauvinists

      Delete
  11. Anonymous12:29

    Well done DBV.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous12:31

    Would love to see Delta again, a class above United by all means in US airlines ratings

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12:32

    This is also good news for OU. It will help fill some domestic routes from Dubrovnik.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12:33

    I wonder if anyone from Zagreb uses this combination to get to New York and the States?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:53

      Last year on average 2-5 paxs per flight were connecting to Zagreb from DBV…on this first flight this year…there were no connecting paxs to ZAG

      Delete
  15. JU520 BEGLAX15:59

    Unfortunately AA had to stop DBV due to shortage of widebody aircraft. With Covid all A330 and B767 left the fleet and the B787 deliveries are delayed. AA currently misses 13 B787. My guess is that AA wont be back any soon, the question is also if there is enough traffic to justify two US long haul operations. Also, UA has good widebody domestic connections to EWR from LAX; SFO, DEN, IAH. AA just operates a few widebodies domestic flights due to a/c shortage. I personally prefer to fly transcon or longer flights with widebodies, especially when flying Business or Premium Eco. Most probably UA will extend season to April-October and upgrade to 5-6 weekly services.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous17:58

    Some still say: Long haul will recover last! Note to other airline with nonstop flights from the ExYu region to New York: it already recovered enough and is expanding for those who are dedicated to making it happen. Long haul expansion works, second year in a row to DBV for United.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How dare you saying so? If it would be so, then OU should have operated long-haul long ago. Oh, wait, some people were bribed to let that market go to LH.....

      Delete
  17. Anonymous19:49

    The bookings are high….mostly tourists

    ReplyDelete
  18. Too bad they don't fly from EWR to BEG. Trying to get to JFK from anywhere is a horror. And New York City charges a fortune to cross it's bridges.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.