United Airlines has reported a nearly 30% increase in bookings to European destinations compared to 2019 and a 10% rise compared to last year.
This surge is attributed to more Americans spending their holiday budgets on unique experiences rather than physical gifts.
A recent Deloitte survey anticipates a 16% rise in consumer spending on holiday experiences this year.
European Christmas markets, a longstanding cultural tradition, attract millions of global visitors yearly with festive offerings like mulled wine, artisan crafts, live music, and picturesque scenery.
United, the world's largest airline, is prepared for its busiest holiday season. In November and December, it plans to offer nearly 60 nonstop flights daily from its U.S. hubs to Europe.
This is more than any other U.S. airline, allowing travelers to easily visit popular Christmas markets.
United's partnerships with Lufthansa Group and Deutsche Bahn also provide smooth connections to more than 130 European cities.
United's busiest European destinations during the holiday period typically include London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, and Brussels.
The airline will offer daily nonstop flights to 16 European cities with holiday markets. It is the only U.S. airline with year-round nonstop flights to Geneva and Berlin.
In anticipation of the 2024 holiday season, United expects to transport around 25 million passengers, a 6% increase from 2023.
The airline is implementing measures to ensure a safe, reliable, and efficient operation for its customers.
These measures include weather preparedness, proprietary technology to save flight connections, touchless ID security measures, a virtual customer service tool, a personalized mobile app, free family seating, and real-time text updates.
