United Airlines and Singapore Airlines have significantly expanded their codeshare destinations throughout Asia and the United States.

Star Alliance members Singapore Airlines (SIA) and United Airlines are offering their customers a whole new range of destinations on codeshare flights. With global aviation markets rapidly reopening, the two airlines are making sure they are not left behind in the race for returning customers.

The new agreement adds 19 new codeshare destinations that will attract family, leisure, and business travelers alike. The move will also add much-needed traffic on United's and SIA's long-haul fleets.

Getting the big birds back flying

Singapore has 140 widebody aircraft, a mix of Airbus A380 and A350 and Boeing 777 and B787-10 Dreamliner aircraft. Much of this fleet sat idle during the pandemic, but with Singapore's borders reopening, they are getting ready to start earning money again.

According to Planespotters.net, there's even more widebody capacity available at United. It has 213 widebodies, consisting of Boeing B767, B777 and B787 Dreamliners.

Reflecting Singapore's lack of a domestic market, widebodies make up 80% of its fleet compared to 25% of United's.

United SVP of international network and alliances Patrick Quayle says it is the only airline flying direct to Singapore with its nonstop San Francisco to Singapore service.

"We are excited to further expand our partnership with Singapore Airlines and provide our customers greater convenience and access to world-class destinations in the region."

From today, United's customers have nine new codeshare destinations, seven of which are in southeast Asia.

New links are to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei, Siem Reap in Cambodia, Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and Penang and Indonesia's Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta and Surbaya.

It also adds a new Australian destination of Perth and the Indian Ocean paradise of Male in the Maldives. United passengers will connect directly to these with SIA flights.

SIA has a daily Singapore - Los Angeles service, flight SQ38, covering the 14,100 kilometers (8,750 miles) trip in around 14:30 hours. The A350-900 is scheduled to depart Singapore (SIN) at 20:45 and arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 21:40.

United is a key part of SIA's strategy

SIA senior vice president of marketing planning, JoAnn Tan, says the United partnership is an integral part of SIA's growth strategy.

"The expansion of the codeshare arrangement will provide both SIA and United customers with a greater array of choices and connections, as well as seamless transfers for their business or leisure travel. This will also help to strengthen the deep and longstanding ties between Singapore and the US."

SIA customers can connect from Los Angeles to 10 new codeshare destinations. These are Austin, Baltimore, Boise, Cleveland, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, and Sacramento.

Beyond the seamless connections to new destinations in the US, Singapore and United customers will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer points and miles while flying on both carriers.

With simplified entry requirements in the US and Singapore, the timing of these new arrangements is a great piece of strategy from the two well-known carriers. With much of Asia enduring almost two years of isolation, there is enormous pent-up demand to reconnect with family and business associates on both sides of the Pacific.

Passengers want, indeed demand, seamless connectivity in this post-pandemic environment, and this is giving it to them on these popular routes.

It looks like a winner to me.

Source: Planespotters.net