United adds summer flights to Iceland, Greece and Croatia, hoping vaccinations will boost return

United Airlines said on Monday it was adding flights to Iceland, Croatia and Greece for the summer, hoping that relaxed entry requirements would boost demand for popular tourist destinations.

Most of continental Europe remains banned for most Americans, and airline executives last week were pessimistic, which would change over time for the summer holidays.

But United is choosing a number of European destinations that have already eased travel restrictions or are expected in the coming weeks.

“He created a pop in search,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of the international network and international alliances.

The carrier is adding a Chicago-Reykjavik flight from July 1 to October 3 after Iceland announced last month that it will allow tourists from outside Europe to visit, without a quarantine, if they can demonstrate a Covid-19 vaccine.

Following that announcement, Delta Air Lines said it would resume service to Iceland from New York and Minneapolis and add a flight to Boston. United previously announced a service from Newark to Iceland, which will take place between June 3 and October 29.

United will also add services from Newark to Dubrovnik, Croatia, three times a week, from July 8 to October 3. This country allows visitors who can demonstrate a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination.

Greece said last month it would open its borders in mid-May for vaccinated tourists or those showing a recent negative Covid test, Reuters reported last week that the change could take place as early as this week.

United have said they plan to add a Washington Dulles-Athens flight that will operate from July 1 to October 3, in addition to the Newark-Athens service, which is expected to resume in June. 3.

International service is still flawed, although more people are getting vaccinated and some travel restrictions have been lifted.

In May, international flights will account for 40 percent of United’s total capacity, down from 45 percent in the same month in 2019. Domestic demand for leisure has returned to pre-pandemic levels, they said recently. directors. American Airlines and Delta say they will put large planes – normally used for international long-haul flights – on popular domestic routes this summer.

An international bright spot for United was northern Latin America, such as Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Quayle said. He said he did not expect the rest of Europe to open immediately, although United would resume service from Newark to Milan and Rome and from Chicago to Munich and Amsterdam next month.

“I am most optimistic about the creation of an airlift between the two countries in the UK and the US,” he said.