United eyes business travellers as it boosts European flights in 2019

United Thursday will announce three new daily routes to Europe as the third largest US carrier eyes higher-paying business travellers on transatlantic flights. The increase in transatlantic capacity comes as part of a broader company strategy that includes growing the margin-rich business-class service, said Patrick Quayle, United’s VP of international network. “We’re eyeing the business traveller, and Europe is doing very well for us,” Quayle said. Earlier this year, United cut its 2018 plans for capacity growth to a rate of between 4.5 and 5%. It had previously forecast a range of between 4.5 and 5.5%. In 2019, United will add summer service from Newark, New Jersey, to Prague and Naples, and year-round flights from San Francisco to Amsterdam, the carrier said. United does not currently expect to add or cut flights to Asia, Quayle said. <br/>