"Dubai is one of the fastest growing tourist and commercial centers in the Middle East," said Kevin Knight, United's senior vice president-Planning. "This route answers customer demand for more convenient, nonstop service to the Middle East and strengthens our international network by connecting these important cities like never before."

The new Washington - Dubai route expands United's breadth of service to the Middle East and strengthens the company's Washington Dulles hub as an international gateway. United also serves Kuwait City daily from Washington Dulles in addition to 21 other international destinations. Washington Dulles also offers valuable connections to more than 58 destinations in the United States.

United Flight 976 will depart Washington Dulles at 10:02 p.m. Sunday and land at Dubai International Airport at 6:44 a.m. Monday, local time. On October 27, United Flight 977 will depart Dubai 11:30 p.m. and arrive in Washington at 6:44 a.m. the following day.

Customers flying to Dubai on United will enjoy specially designed cuisine and excellent service. United First(R) customers will have an option of three Western selections as well as a Halal entree of chicken curry with basmati rice, vegetable jalfrezi and pickled vegetables. United First guests may also dine on what they want when they want with United's flexible and customizable dining option.

United Business(R) customers will have an option of two Western selections as well as a Halal prepared entree of Lamb korma, saag kabul and dhal complemented by sides of spinach with garbanzo beans and curried yellow lentils. United Business guests can also select a traditional dinner served in courses or United's Express Dine service -- a complete meal served at once.

To complement United First and United Business meals, United's Sommelier Doug Frost, one of only three people in the world to hold both the title of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, has selected wines that will be available on United Flight 976.

Sample fare between Washington Dulles and Dubai is $512** each way, based on required roundtrip purchase.* Mileage Plus(R) members can earn up to 10,000 bonus miles for qualifying travel. Visit united.com/dubai for details. In addition, customers booking at united.com pay no booking fees and receive the guaranteed lowest United fares.

United will operate combined passenger and cargo service between Washington and Dubai using a B777 aircraft configured with 10 United First Suite(R) seats, 45 United Business(R) seats and 198 United Economy(R) seats, including 84 Economy Plus(R) seats. United is the only U.S. airline to offer customers a choice of four different seating selections on overseas flights -- United First, United Business, Economy Plus and Economy. With the B777 aircraft, United has the capability to carry about 15 tons of cargo from Washington Dulles to Dubai and about 7 tons of cargo from Dubai to Washington Dulles.

United continues to place its assets where they will provide the greatest return for United and its customers while leveraging the company's strengths. Given Dubai's dynamic economic growth and its close ties to the United States, nonstop service will deliver a positive economic impact for the more than five million residents of the Washington metropolitan area.

Source: PRNEWSWIRE