United Continental Holdings has announced that United Airlines will launch a daily non-stop service from Manchester to its Washington DC hub, Dulles International, starting May 2012, subject to government approval. The carrier has operated a non-stop service from Manchester to New York’s Newark airport since 2005.

Flight CO101/UA101 will depart from Manchester daily at 1200 to arrive into Washington at 1500 the same day. Return flight CO100/UA100 leaves Washington at 2215 to reach Manchester the next day at 1020.

The service will be served by Continental Airlines B757-200 featuring 175 seats with 16 in Business First and 159 in economy (to see the seat plan click here). This aircraft is fitted with the new Business First product which consists of a full-flat seat which extends to 6 feet 4 inches and up to 25 inches wide. The seat features laptop power, headset and USB plugs, iPod connectivity and a 15.4-inch video monitor with Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) entertainment.

United Continental will also launch non-stop flights from Dublin to Washington DC next June, again operated by Continental B757-200 aircraft - for more information click here.

Bob Schumacher, United’s Managing Director U.K. and Ireland said: “We are delighted to offer our customers non-stop service to Washington, D.C., in addition to New York. As well as cutting journey times for travellers between the two cities, the new schedule will greatly increase the range of options for customers travelling beyond our hubs to destinations throughout the Americas.”

United and Continental Airlines merged under the holding company United Continental Holdings in October 2010 (see online news May 3, 2010) but continue to operate separately pending a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected to be approved this year. The combined airline will be called United but will feature elements of the Continental branding.

For more information visit united.com and continental.com.

Report by Scott Carey