A major expansion of United Airlines’ Asian network has been approved by U.S. regulators. In a government filing, the Department of Transportation granted permission for new routes to Thailand and Vietnam.
Upon launch, United will be the only U.S. passenger airline to serve the countries – but the new flights won’t be nonstop. Services to both Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City will be operated as extensions to the carrier’s existing twice-daily route from Los Angeles to Hong Kong.
In industry parlance, these are known as fifth freedom flights. They allow an airline to fly between two foreign airports as part of a multi-stop flight that starts or ends in its own country. There can be operational benefits, for example, the ability to refuel and change crews. Importantly, they also lower the commercial risk by broadening the pool of potential passengers.
When Will the New Flights Begin?
The DOT notes that United plans to start the new routes “on or near October 26, 2025.” This will coincide with the start of the industry’s winter season schedule.
As is customary for new services, United has a 10-day leeway from its proposed start date. In practice, this means it must begin operations at the allocated frequency by November 5 or risk forfeiting the flight rights.
In its application to the DOT, United requested authority for year-round service. However, it also sought “seasonal flexibility to tailor capacity to demand during off-peak periods.”
This could see its daily services to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City reduced to three or four weekly at quieter times of the year. All of the new flights will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The ‘White Lotus’ Effect
The approval from U.S. regulators came less than three weeks after United announced plans to expand its network in the Asia-Pacific. Speaking at the time, Patrick Quayle, United’s SVP of global network planning and alliances, highlighted an uptick in demand for Thailand due to the latest season of “The White Lotus.”
“Bangkok was and already has been the most visited city in Thailand, and it has a deep history,” Quayle said. “And Thailand has a really rich culture, and this city is even more in demand now, given the popularity of White Lotus.”
Vietnam might be lacking the halo of a smash-hit television series, but the country is continuing to outperform regional rivals. In 2024, Vietnam surpassed Singapore to become the third most-visited country in Southeast Asia, with 17.5 million international arrivals.
Last week, Skift reported on proposals for new flexible visa policies as Vietnam ramps up efforts to meet its ambitious target of 23 million foreign visitors this year. The calls, led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, could see the rollout of a ‘golden visa’ style system to attract wealthy foreigners.
The growing importance of visa-free travel is likely to be one of the key topics in discussion at the Skift Asia Forum, which takes place in Bangkok next month.
United Adds Adelaide
As well as new flights to Thailand and Vietnam, United recently revealed plans to connect San Francisco and Adelaide.
Services to Australia’s fifth-largest city are due to begin on December 11. They will complement existing United flights to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The carrier is also expanding its San Francisco-Manila service, adding a second daily link. This will see United offer a day and night flight in each direction.
Speaking during the airline’s first-quarter earnings call on April 16, United CEO, Scott Kirby, used the new Philippines capacity to highlight “structural supply constraints,” and shortages of widebody planes and airport slots. “I can’t tell you how hard it was for us to get slots in Manila,” Kirby said. “If I had to make a bet… longer term, then I’d put all my chips on international because the supply constraints are real and are significant.”
The latest additions are part of United’s broader strategy to serve off-the-beaten-path destinations. The Chicago-based carrier already operates flights to Palma de Mallorca, Dubrovnik, and Marrakech, with Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Nuuk, Greenland also joining the route map.
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