CHICAGO, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, United launches new daily nonstop passenger and cargo service between Washington, D.C., and Kuwait City, expanding United's global network into the fast-growing Middle East region. To commemorate the only nonstop commercial service between the United States and Kuwait offered by a U.S. airline, a celebration will be held this evening at Washington Dulles International Airport that brings together government officials and dignitaries from the United States and Kuwait. United will hold additional events upon the flight's arrival in Kuwait City.
United Flight 982 departs Washington Dulles today at 9:51 p.m. EDT and is scheduled to arrive at the Kuwait International Airport at 4:50 p.m., tomorrow. United will operate the combined passenger and cargo flight with a Boeing 777 aircraft configured with 10 United First Suite(R) seats, 45 United Business(R) seats and 198 United Economy(R) class seats, including 84 Economy Plus(R) seats. The flight will also provide approximately 106 metric tons of cargo capacity per month between the United States and Kuwait.
Sample fares between Washington, D.C., and Kuwait City on United are each way, based on required roundtrip purchase by Nov. 15, 2006.* See below or visit united.com:
Washington, D.C. - Kuwait $581 Chicago - Kuwait $623 Los Angeles - Kuwait $658
Customers who travel on the Kuwait service between Oct. 28, 2006 and Dec. 15, 2006 can earn up to 10,000 bonus miles through a special promotion available on united.com/kuwaitbonus.
"We are strengthening our global network by making Washington Dulles a major international gateway that links our nation's capital with key global commerce centers, including nearly a dozen world capitals," says John Tague, United's executive vice president and chief revenue officer. "The Kuwait City service provides our customers with direct access to the Middle East, where petroleum, energy and shipping industries have created an increased demand for air cargo and passenger service."
This fall, United will have increased its international and U.S. domestic service for business and leisure travelers from Washington Dulles by 39 new flights. This represents an approximate 14 percent increase in departures compared to fall of last year. With this increase, United, Ted(SM) and United Express(R) will provide an average of 321 daily departures from Washington Dulles by November 2006 and convenient connections to more than 90 destinations.
United's new service to Kuwait City also strengthens Washington Dulles as United's international gateway to almost a dozen world capitals. Other recently announced capital-to-capital flights from Washington Dulles include United's first-ever Asia-Pacific service from Washington, D.C., that launches tomorrow, and its proposed service between Washington, D.C., and Rome. In addition, the company also has applied for daily service between Beijing and Washington, D.C., which would be the first-ever capital-to-capital nonstop service between these two countries, if approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Customers will earn 1,000 bonus miles each time they purchase qualifying travel at united.com, which also offers no booking fees and the guaranteed lowest United fares. Customers can also earn 500 bonus miles each time they check in for a flight using EasyCheck-in Online at united.com by Jan. 31, 2007. Both of these bonus mile offers enable customers to earn an additional 2,000 miles per flight. Terms and conditions of the offers are available at united.com.
About United
United Airlines operates more than 3,700** flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 210 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 841 destinations in 157 countries worldwide. United's 56,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com.
** Based on the flight schedule between May 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006.
* FARE FACTS: Fares above are each way based on required roundtrip
purchase for United Economy(R) travel on United Airlines(R), Ted(SM),
and United Express(R) carriers. Tickets purchased through United
reservation offices are $15 per ticket higher and tickets purchased at
airport ticket counters are $20 per ticket higher. Fares purchased
through other distribution channels may also be higher. When purchasing
from United, always go to united.com to find United's lowest fares.
Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights/dates.
Purchase Requirements: Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days in
advance and ticketed within 72 hours of making reservations, but no
later than 11/15/06. International sale fares apply to U.S.
point-of-sale only. Reservations and ticket purchases on united.com
must be completed simultaneously. Travel Days/Dates: Fares for travel
to Kuwait are valid for travel on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and
fares for travel from Kuwait are valid for travel on Thursday, Saturday
or Monday from 11/14/06 through 2/27/07. Sale fares for other days of
the week are higher. Blackout Dates: Fares are not valid for travel to
or from Kuwait between 12/15/06 and 12/25/06. International Max./Min.
Stay: A Saturday night minimum stay is required. The maximum stay is 30
days. Additional Taxes/Fees: Fares do not include a $3.30 per flight
segment tax. A flight segment is defined as one takeoff and one
landing. Fares do not include the September 11th Security Fee of up to
$10 maximum per roundtrip or Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18,
which may be collected depending on the itinerary. Fares for Hawaii and
Alaska do not include a $7.30 (each way) departure tax. All
international fares are subject to U.S. arrival and departure taxes and
agricultural, immigrations and customs fees of up to $41. For travel
to some countries, additional airport, transportation, embarkation,
security, and passenger service taxes/surcharges of up to $124 will
apply depending on destination. For return travel from some countries,
fares do not include airport and/or departure taxes of up to $36, which
may be collected by the foreign government. Itinerary Changes: Tickets
are non-refundable, but the return portion may be changed for a $200
fee, provided the new itinerary is within the parameters of this offer,
minimum and maximum stay requirements are met, and the origin and
destination are not changed. If the reservation is cancelled before the
ticketed departure date, the itinerary may be rebooked up to one year
from the original ticket issue date for a $200 service charge. If a
reservation is not cancelled before the ticketed departure date, the
ticket has no value. Other Conditions: Fares, fees and taxes are
subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. Lower
fares may be available to select destinations.
Worldwide Press Office:
Days: 847.700.5538
Evenings/Weekends: 847.700.4088
