United revives Honolulu-Chicago route

United Airlines is bringing back its daily non-stop service between its hub in Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Honolulu in June. “This flight will answer the call from our customers in the Chicagoland area for daily, nonstop access to the beaches and sunshine of Hawaii,” said airline spokesman John Tague. The airline has extensive services between the Mainland and Hawaii, and also recently announced the addition of a second daily non-stop flight between Tokyo and Honolulu.

United’s Honolulu-Chicago route was discontinued years ago, declared “gone for the foreseeable future” by partnerships manager Jim Davidovich in April of 2001. In addition to waning demand, industry watchers suspected the route was a casualty of labor disputes relating to the length of the trip.

The revived route will use 348-passenger Boeing 777 aircraft, with UA Flight No. 001 departing Chicago at 10:15 a.m. and arriving in Honolulu at 1:45 p.m. local time. The return leg, UA Flight No. 002, will leave Honolulu at 4:25 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 6:15 p.m.

“This was a popular flight among many Hawaii residents and visitors, so we’re very pleased travelers will once again have this option,” said Gov. Linda Lingle in a statement. “The resumption of nonstop service between Honolulu and Chicago is good news for visitors from the Midwest and those connecting from the East Coast.”

“As Hawaii’s visitor market continues to strengthen, the addition of flights such as this will help meet demand,” Lingle added.