by If you want to arrive on the Amalfi Coast in style, United Airlines has a new option for you.
The Chicago-based airline will add a second daily flight from its Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) hub to Naples, Italy, just in time for the peak summer season.
The additional service will run from 23 June to 7 September, as first seen in the Cirium plans and later confirmed by a spokesperson for the carrier.
United has flown seasonally to Naples since 2019. However, this second daily flight will mark the first time the airline has ever deployed its finest jet on the route.
That’s right, United’s new frequency to Naples will be operated by the 167-seat Boeing 767-300, which is the airline’s most premium aircraft.
Related: How to Plan a Trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast Without Breaking the Bank
Originally created for the airline’s busiest business routes (such as New York and Chicago to London), the “high J” Boeing 767 has a total of 46 Polaris business-class pods spread over 16 rows. The jet also includes a 22-seat Premium Plus cabin.
There are only 99 economy seats on the plane, of which 43 are in an Economy Plus configuration with extra legroom.
United’s second flight to Naples will operate from May 6 to October 28 with “standard” Boeing 767-300s, which are equipped with 30 Polaris seats in business class. Of course, flight assignments are always subject to change, but this is United’s current plan.
“We anticipate another busy summer for international travel in 2023 and are excited to offer our Southern Italy customers even greater travel choices with the ability to connect via our New York/Newark hub to over 90 destinations across the Americas, ” Walter Cianciusi, United’s head of sales for Italy, said in a statement.
Naples is the third most populous metro area in Italy and is a popular tourist destination for Americans looking to explore the city and its surroundings, which include the nearby islands of Capri and Ischia, as well as the Amalfi Coast and towns such as Sorrento.
United is currently the only airline that flies from North America to Naples. Given the airline’s success, it’s possible Delta could consider launching its own seasonal service from New York in the coming years, especially as airlines look to capitalize on premium leisure traffic in a post-pandemic world.
Of course, with corporate demand still somewhat depressed – especially in the high summer period – it’s not surprising to see United give the Naples route a shot with its fanciest jet.
It’s a move the airline popularized earlier in the pandemic when it launched a new route from Newark to Maui, also operated by the high-J Boeing 767.
United’s transatlantic growth has been nothing short of impressive in recent summers, as the airline has added new destinations and increased existing flights in many markets.
For 2023, United plans one brand new European destination – Malaga, Spain – along with a handful of additional long-haul flights, including:
- EWR to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN).
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Shannon Airport (SNN).
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
- ORD to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Heathrow Airport (LHR).
- IAD to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
In addition, United added five new pins to the route map last summer, and four of them (Amman, Jordan; Azores, Portugal; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Tenerife, Spain) will return for another season. The only one to be dropped is Bergen, Norway, which did not meet the airline’s standards.
With a range of additional first class seats on the market, it can be easier than ever to obtain an upgrade or find a ticket at a saver price on routes to Naples.
Unfortunately, the carrier hasn’t released much, if any, availability yet, but that could change as summer approaches.
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