Hidden Clue: Will United Airlines Launch Service To Kuala Lumpur?

Embedded into the final print edition of United’s Hemispheres magazine is either a careless mistake…or an “easter egg” that United Airlines may be launching service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Will United Airlines Launch Service To Kuala Lumpur?

September 2024 marks the final print edition of Hemispheres magazine and the cover features the following artwork:

As flagged by View From The Wing, what “shadows” on the water do you notice?

Eiffel Tower – Paris
Willis Tower – Chicago
Tower Bridge – London
Empire State Building – New York
Oriental Pearl Tower – Shanghai
Petronas Tower – Kuala Lumpur

United serves Paris, Chicago, London, New York, and Shanghai…but has never served Kuala Lumpur.

Could this be an “easter egg” (a hidden surprise or extra feature) foreshadowing a new route announcement?

As it turns out, I’ve been invited to a cocktail reception next month during which several new routes are expected to be revealed.

Am I putting any bets on KL?

No.

Of course, I’d love to see United serve Malaysia from its San Franciso hub on a Dreamliner jet. It would be a Patrick Quayle-type route (United’s shrewd route planner and Global Network EVP) but I think it would work (as Air Canada’s Vancouver – Bangkok routes also appear to be working).

But maybe, just as United still plans to launch service from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Cebu, Philipines (CEB), it could launch a Fifth Freedom service from Tokyo. Or even from Singapore (SIN)?

It’s fun to speculate, but yields to KL have historically been low but without even the demand of a destination like Manila (MNL). Perhaps a seasonal route could work but I’m not holding my breath.

I’ll do another post speculating on potential new routes United could announce next month, but until the Petronas Tower was pointed out, KL was certainly not on my radar.

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