United Airlines to add Denver flights to Canada oil fields, Santa Fe

Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

A United Airlines jet at Denver International Airport.

United Airlines said Wednesday it will launch another nonstop international flight from Denver International Airport -- this one to a city in Canada's oil fields -- as well as direct service to Santa Fe in the first half of 2013.

On June 6, United -- the largest carrier at DIA -- will start daily service between Denver and Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada -- the only nonstop service between Fort McMurray and the United States.

Fort McMurray will be United's 18th destination in Canada. The city is adjacent to Alberta's rich Athabasca Oil Sands areas, and its airport is undergoing a major expansion project, the Edmonton Journal newspaper reports.

SkyWest Airlines will operate the flights for United using 66-seat Canadair CRJ-700 regional jets that include six business-class seats, 28 seats in Economy Plus and 32 seats in economy class.

The announcement comes seven months after United said that it would begin nonstop service from DIA to Tokyo.

The first flight is scheduled for March 31.

Also, United Express will begin twice-daily service will begin twice-daily service between Denver and Santa Fe on May 1. ExpressJet will operate the flights to the New Mexico capital using 50-seat Embraer regional jet aircraft, according to a news release.

The new flights are part of a package of new flights that Chicago-based United announced Wedneday from its hub airports in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

"The addition of these new routes further improves United's already industry-leading network," said Grant Whitney, United's managing director of scheduling, in the news release. "By launching new destinations and additional flights to currently-served points, we provide more convenience and options for travelers."

DIA already has direct flights to several Canadian destinations, including Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, and Great Lakes Airlines flies between the Denver airport and Santa Fe.

Ed Sealover covers government, health care, tourism, airlines and hospitality for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Capitol Business" blog. Phone: 303-803-9229.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_30/~3/5p-SOSlkFpc/united-airlines-to-add-denver-flights.html

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