HANOVER TWP., LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. — Lehigh Valley International Airport soon will see new United flights to Chicago O’Hare, the airport announced Thursday.
But it will lose United-branded bus services to Newark, LVIA announced.
In posts on Facebook and X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, airport officials wrote that the new midday flight to Chicago will launch on Aug. 19.
United-branded buses to Newark, operated on the airline’s behalf by transportation company Landline, will stop running Sept. 1.
Trans-Bridge Lines will continue to offer its own bus service to Newark Liberty unaffiliated with any airline, the airport said.
“That midday flight just gives [travelers] another opportunity to look at ABE as an option for them.”Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Director of Public Relations Colin Riccobon
United currently offers two daily flights from LVIA to Chicago O’Hare: one scheduled for 6:30 a.m. and another at 5:35 p.m. The new flight will fall somewhere in between.
As a result, passengers will have more flexibility and more opportunities to connect to destinations in the western United States, said Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Director of Public Relations Colin Riccobon.
“When you're looking to book your flight and you've just got the two, either you leave early in the morning, or you're leaving later in the evening. Sometimes it just doesn't really fit your bill,” Riccobon said.
“That midday flight just gives [travelers] another opportunity to look at ABE as an option for them.”
Losing the bus service but gaining a new midday flight “almost evens out,” Riccobon said.
United has not yet shared what aircraft will fly the new route.
If the airline selects a larger regional jet and passengers consistently fill it up, LVIA could see a net increase in passenger traffic despite losing United-branded bus service to Newark.
