As United Airlines prepares to launch a daily nonstop flight from Denver to London on March 30, business travelers say it will make doing international business out of Denver easier. “We have a lot of demand for it. Lots of folks have already booked it,” said Robert Polk, chief executive of Polk Majestic Travel Group.
While British Airways already has a nonstop flight between Denver and London, the new United flight offers an important new option.
“Most people have United miles here, so it gives them a chance to earn more miles on United,” Polk said. “It’s a good fit for Denver.”
Because London is a major financial center, easing travel on the route is important to a number of large companies in the Denver area.
At Molson Coors, whose Coors Brewers Limited division is located in Burton-on-Trent outside of London, spokeswoman Aimee Valdez said the flight “fits nicely with the growing nature of our international business” and gives employees more flexibility for scheduling travel to Europe.
Janus Capital Group has an office in London, and the company’s investment team and sales employees travel heavily, according to spokeswoman Shelley Peterson. “The more direct flights you can get to a place, the better it is,” Peterson said.
Because United has its second largest hub at Denver International Airport, offering a flight to London provides a way for United to feed travelers from outside Denver and Colorado through the hub to get to London.
Some travelers will use the flight to connect to other locations in Europe, but those with destinations in Africa and the Middle East may find it more convenient to continue using the British Airways flight, Polk said.
United announced it would start the Denver-London flight when the Open Skies agreement between the United States and the European Union loosened restrictions on flights into London Heathrow Airport.
Competition is “a very good thing,” Polk said, but the cost of flying, internationally in particular, is still rising because of the cost of fuel.
United plans to hold a “suitcase party” at the British-themed Pints Pub in Denver on March 30 for the nonstop’s launch. There, the winner of a contest for the best decorated suitcase will get on the flight to London that day, said United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.
Kelly Yamanouchi: 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com
Direct to London
Starts: March 30
Fare: Introductory sale includes a $570 round-trip fare for travel Monday through Wednesday when purchased by March 26 with travel beginning by May 15.
Incentives: United also is offering 1,500 to 7,500 bonus Mileage Plus miles for those who fly by May 31.
Flight schedule
From Denver to London Heathrow: Departure 8:20 p.m., arriving 12:15 p.m. the next day; 8 hours 55 minutes
From London Heathrow to Denver: Departure 1:05 p.m., arriving 4:14 p.m.; 10 hours 9 minutes
