United is opening a new route to Athens from Chicago: what is known about the flights and when they will start
United Airlines has announced the commencement of non-stop service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. The new seasonal route will be serviced by Boeing 787-8 aircraft with a seating capacity of 243 passengers configured in a three-seat layout.
Flights will be available daily from May 23 to August 12, as reported by Simple Flying. In this route, the airline will face competition from American Airlines, which also offers seasonal flights between Chicago and Athens from May to October.
The departure from Chicago is scheduled for 16:35, arriving in Athens at 10:50, factoring in the time difference. The return flight will depart at 12:45 and land at 16:25 US time. The flight duration is over 10 hours one way and over 11 hours in the opposite direction.
The introduction of the new route provides additional options for American tourists interested in visiting Athens, renowned for its ancient culture and landmarks such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Erechtheion.
United Airlines now operates three regular routes to Athens with the addition of the Chicago route. The airline already runs flights from Newark Liberty International Airport and Dulles International Airport.
It's worth noting that none of these routes operate year-round, with services available only from March to December.