Airline adds new flights, flies larger planes
with more seats and adjusts departure times to help fans get home
quickly after games
United has been the official airline partner
of the Chicago Bears for more than 50 years; nearly 76,000
Bears fans traveled to away games last season – among the most of
any NFL team
Tickets are now available in the United mobile
app and on United.com
CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today launched a first-of-its kind
flight schedule to make it easier for Chicago Bears fans to travel
to every away game this season. For the first time ever, the
airline is adjusting departure times of six flights so fans have
the option to fly home the same night as away games. United is also
flying larger planes on two routes and adding an additional nonstop
flight between O'Hare and London's
Heathrow Airport for the Week 6 Bears/Jaguars game at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium – giving fans four total nonstop flight options to
get to London.
According to data from the NFL, Chicago Bears fans are among the
most dedicated road warriors in the league; more than 76,000 Bears
fans traveled to away games during the 2023-24 season.
"As Chicago's Hometown Airline® and long-standing
sponsor of the Chicago Bears, we're proud to show our support this
season with this special schedule for fans," said Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President
of Global Network Planning. "Our enhanced schedule gives customers
options no other carrier is providing, making it easier for fans to
support the Bears on the road during some of the biggest games of
the season."
United is Chicago's largest
airline, operating more than 500 daily departures from Chicago
O'Hare with nonstop service to 148 cities in the United States and nonstop service to more
than 40 international destinations.
United Airlines has been the official airline of the Chicago
Bears for more than 50 years, flying the team to more than 350
games and making it easier for thousands of fans to cheer on the
Bears on the road every year. The two organizations consistently
partner for community engagements in the Chicago area including earlier this summer,
when Chicago Bears Tight End Cole
Kmet worked alongside the airline's Special Olympics Service
Ambassadors for the day to help drive awareness of the
organization's travel needs.
"We are fortunate to continue building on our progressive and
collaborative partnership with United Airlines by creating more
unique opportunities to accommodate our loyal and passionate fans,"
said Bears Senior Advisor to the President/CEO & Chief
Administrative Officer, Ted
Crews.
"As Bears fans create their travel plans for the upcoming
season, it is a welcomed and appreciated gesture by United to
provide optimal travel accommodations through increased flight
options, helping our fans return to Chicago, and wherever they call home, safely
and efficiently," said Karen Murphy,
Bears Executive Vice President of Stadium Development & Chief
Operating Officer.
Bears Away Schedule
United is making it easier for fans to see every away game this
season including:
- Retiming return flights to Chicago for seven games so fans have the
option to fly home on game night, or early the next morning:
- Houston, TX (IAH) on
September 15 – evening flight departs
at 11:59 p.m.
- Indianapolis, IN (IND) on
September 22 – evening flight departs
at 7:19 p.m.
- Phoenix, AZ (PHX) on
November 3 – evening flight departs
at 8:45 p.m.
- Detroit, MI (DTW) on
November 28 – evening flight departs
at 5:30 p.m.
- San Jose, CA (SJC) on
December 8 – evening flight departs
at 7:00 p.m.
- Minneapolis, MN (MSP) on
December 17 – flight departs at
7:20 a.m., the morning after the
game.
- Green Bay, WI (GRB) on
January 5 – flight departs at
7:41 p.m.
- Flying larger planes between Chicago O'Hare and Reagan
National Airport on October 27 as
well as to Green Bay, WI when the
game is announced.
- Adding an additional flight between Chicago O'Hare and
London Heathrow on October 9 and 10,
returning October 14 and 15.
Tickets are on sale now in the United app and on United.com.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, New
York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most
comprehensive global route network among North American carriers,
and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by
available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team,
please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the
company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the
parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq
under the symbol "UAL".
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SOURCE United Airlines