United Airlines Will Boost Summer Capacity With The Boeing 757-300 Between San Francisco & Orlando

Chicago-based United Airlines is preparing to add more seats between its hub at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) for the summer months. After last operating its Boeing 757-300 aircraft on the route during the holidays, the plane type will return for a four-month run.

The move caters to the increased demand the Orlando market experiences during the summer travel season. With the addition of the flying pencil, United will offer nearly 3,000 additional seats on the route next month.

Less flights, but more passengers

According to aviation data and analytics firm Cirium, the US legacy carrier is planning to operate the 757-300 on nearly 60 flights between SFO and MCO in May. This month, the route has been operated exclusively by the 737 MAX 9 with 120 flights – 60 in each direction. The MAX 9 will stick around in May, complementing the 757-300’s increased capacity. Other 737 variants will also make appearances, but they will be sparse.

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A total of 124 flights will be scheduled next month across four aircraft types. Data shows that the 737-800 will handle two flights on the route, one each way, while the 737-900ER will only operate one flight from SFO to MCO. The MAX 9 is scheduled for 62 flights on the route – 30 from SFO to MCO and 32 on the return, and the 757-300 will handle slightly less at 59 flights: 30 MCO bound and 29 SFO bound.

Nearly 14,000 seats in May

Despite the aircraft type operating three fewer flights than the MAX 9, its capacity is greater. United has configured the plane to accommodate 234 passengers, 55 more passengers than the MAX 9’s capacity of 179. In a two-class format, the 757-300 has 24 seats in first class and 210 seats in economy. 54 seats in economy are designated as United Economy Plus, offering an increased seat pitch of up to 38 inches over the 31 inches in the standard economy seats.

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The inflight experience on United’s 757-300s is also slightly different. Unlike most of the carrier’s planes, which have seatback entertainment, the 757-300s do not. However, passengers can still enjoy hundreds of movies and TV shows by streaming United’s inflight entertainment to their personal devices. Wi-Fi is also available for purchase, and passengers can keep their devices charged with power outlets, but the aircraft does not feature USB ports.

A simple solution

Between SFO and MCO next month, the 737 MAX 9 will offer a total of 11,098 seats. In comparison, the 757-300 will have 13,806 total seats, which is an increase of nearly 3,000 seats – albeit, again, it will handle less flights. The statistics show how United can utilize the aircraft as a simple solution to boost capacity where needed on US domestic routes. The airline does deploy the plane overseas, but only on select routes to Hawaii, not international markets.

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

The aircraft will operate between SFO and MCO until August when the MAX 9 will take over again. United is the largest operator of the 757-300 with 21 examples, according to ch-aviation. The planes were inherited from Continental Airlines when the carriers merged in 2010.

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Delta Air Lines also operates the aircraft type inherited from its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008. While the Atlanta-based airline’s 757-300 fleet consists of only 16 jets, the carrier also uses its capacity to its advantage, deploying it on key routes where demand proves the need.