United Airlines (Chicago) has announced plans to fly its new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft on domestic routes starting in November as it prepares to begin previously-announced international service in December and January.
United expects to take delivery of the first five new Dreamliners this year from its total order for 50 of these aircraft. As the initial aircraft are inducted into the fleet, they will be based at United’s Houston hub and will enter into service according to the following schedule:
| Late September | 1st 787 delivery |
| October | Proving/validation flights and training activities that allow United to meet FAA certification requirements and prepare United to become the first North American operator for this new aircraft type. 2nd 787 delivery. |
| November | Scheduled commercial flights from Houston to other U.S. hubs. 3rd and 4th 787 deliveries expected. |
| December | Scheduled commercial flights from Houston to other U.S. hubs. 5th 787 delivery expected. First international service Dec. 4. |
| January | Commencement of scheduled commercial flights on additional international routes as announced on Aug. 23. |
United will phase in scheduled 787-8 service between Houston and each of its other domestic hubs beginning on November 4, 2012 as shown below. This schedule allows United’s 787s to operate more than 470 flight segments in the U.S. in the last two months of 2012 in addition to international flights beginning in early December:
| Route | Flight times | Effective Date | End Date | Frequency |
| IAH-SFO-IAH | 5:45 p.m. westbound
12:15 a.m. eastbound |
Nov. 4, 2012 | Dec. 2, 2012 | 5 x weekly |
| IAH-LAX-IAH | 3:30 p.m. westbound 6:25 p.m. eastbound |
Nov. 4, 2012 | Dec. 3, 2012 | 6 x weekly |
| IAH-ORD-IAH | 7:25 a.m. northbound
11:15 a.m. southbound |
Nov. 4, 2012 | Dec. 3, 2012 | 6 x weekly |
| IAH-EWR-IAH | 8 a.m. northbound
3:30 p.m. southbound |
Nov. 4, 2012 | Jan. 3, 2013 | Daily, except Nov. 18 |
| IAH-CLE-IAH | 7 a.m. northbound 4 p.m. southbound |
Nov. 10, 2012 | Nov. 10, 2012 | One-day service |
| IAH-IAD-IAH | 7 a.m. northbound 3:50 p.m. southbound |
Nov. 17, 2012 | Nov. 17, 2012 | One-day service |
| IAH-SFO-IAH | 5:45 p.m. westbound
12:15 a.m. eastbound |
Dec. 3, 2012 | Jan. 3, 2013 | Daily |
| IAH-LAX-IAH | 3:30 p.m. westbound 6:25 p.m. eastbound |
Dec. 4, 2012 | Jan. 3, 2013 | Daily |
| IAH-DEN-IAH | 7:20 a.m. westbound 10:15 a.m. eastbound |
Dec. 5, 2012 | Jan. 2, 2013 | Daily |
| IAH-LAX-IAH | 7:35 a.m. westbound 12:30 p.m. eastbound |
Jan. 3, 2013 | March 31, 2013 | Daily |
| IAH-ORD-IAH | 7:25 a.m. northbound
11:15 a.m. southbound |
Jan. 4, 2013 | March 29, 2013 | Daily |
| IAH-DEN-IAH | 9:15 a.m. westbound 2:15 p.m. eastbound |
March 31, 2013 | Open | Daily |
Note: Timing may vary slightly depending on day of the week. Schedules are subject to change.
The 787-8 aircraft will display for sale for these domestic routes on united.com and other distribution channels beginning September 1. In October, United will announce plans for the official first commercial 787 flights, which are expected to occur prior to November 4 but only after proving/validation flights and training are complete.
Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. Boeing 787-8 N20904 (msn 34824) is the first United Dreamliner, pictured being prepared for delivery at the Boeing assembly factory at Everett, WA. With the 787 Boeing has dropped its long-running customer codes. Many sites are still reporting this as a “787-822” but this is not correct.
United Airlines Slide Show: 