Activities & latest news in Italy

United Airlines Expands Flights Summer 2025 With More Europe, More Sun, and a Surprise Stop in Montana

United Airlines is beefing up its Chicago O’Hare network for summer 2025, adding more flights to Europe, a transatlantic comeback for Reykjavik, and—because why not—Billings, Montana. If you’ve ever dreamed of a United flight whisking you away to Athens or Dublin straight from the Windy City, your moment has arrived.

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New Domestic Destinations (Yes, Montana’s on the List)

Starting May 22, United will initiate daily services to Ontario, California (ONT) or Billings, Montana (BIL). Ontario will be served by a Boeing 737-800 (as if LA traffic wasn’t bad enough—let’s add more flights), while Billings will have the Embraer E175 because the plane needs to get used to landing by the herds of bison.

Travellers hoping to leave the country without much hassle can now do so from Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ) which will join the schedule on May 24. The destination will also be served with weekly flights on the Embraer E175. Because who does not wish to switch from deep-dish pizza to the fresh seafood of the Atlantic?

United’s European Takeover: More Flights, Bigger Planes, and an Early Start

Europe is getting extra love from Chicago this summer, with United tweaking schedules, swapping aircraft, and sending more people across the Atlantic than ever.

• Athens: Daily service starts earlier than planned on May 1 and will now feature a Boeing 787-10, which means more seats, more legroom, and more people Instagramming their Greek island getaways.
• Barcelona: The route now kicks off on April 21, a full 10 days ahead of schedule, starting with a 787-10 before transitioning to a 787-8 on May 1. Translation? You’ll have extra time to sip sangria by the sea.
• Dublin: The Boeing 757-200 gets an upgrade to a 787-8 on March 29, bringing with it a smoother ride, more comfort, and fewer elbow battles over the armrest.
• Milan Malpensa: The seasonal route is back from April 7, a little later than planned but still in time for a springtime espresso at the Duomo.
• Munich & Paris: United’s doing a plane swap here. The Munich route downgrades to a 787-8, while Paris gets an upgrade to a roomier 787-10 on March 29. If you were hoping for more space to practice your German, bad news. But if you’re flying to France, enjoy the extra legroom.

Reykjavik Returns, Shannon Joins the Fun

Nordic lovers, rejoice! United is bringing back its Chicago–Reykjavik flights from May 19 to September 23, using a Boeing 757-200. That means more access to waterfalls, puffins, and whatever the Northern Lights decide to do that night.

Meanwhile, Shannon (SNN) gets a seasonal return starting May 22, also via a daily 757-200. Perfect for those looking to kiss the Blarney Stone or just find an Irish pub where they already know how to pour a proper pint.

What’s the Big Picture?

United isn’t just adding flights—it’s making serious moves to dominate transatlantic travel from Chicago. With bigger planes, better schedules, and more European destinations, summer 2025 is shaping up to be the year of Chicago jetting off to Europe like never before.

United Airlines Expands Flights Summer 2025

And hey, if Europe’s not your thing, there’s always Montana.

Etihad Expands Abu Dhabi Milan Route With Triple-Daily Flights—Because Once Just Wasn’t Enough

In a stunning revelation for those keen on haute couture, gourmet cuisine and using any excuse to go to Italy – Etihad Airways has announced that it will be increasing the frequency of its Abu Dhabi-Milan route to three daily flights commencing November 1, 2025. Voilà! They will be boosting the travel opportunity by nearly 115% and offering more than 12,600 weekly seats. If Milan wasn’t in your sightseeing list, it certainly should be now.

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Why is this so special?

Etihad is going all out with this one, Operating them with a mix of Boeing 777s and the stylish Airbus A321LR which is all about that boutique airline. So, even at 35,000 feet you can feel the premium vibes.

Plus, if you’re an Etihad Guest member, you’ll get complimentary Wi-Fly chat, so you can keep up with emails (or just flex on Instagram mid-flight). And if you want full internet access, you can buy unlimited data packages—because Milan selfies need to be posted in real time.

Special Fares—Because Who Doesn’t Love a Good Deal?

To celebrate this Milanese extravaganza, Etihad is offering special Economy fares starting at AED 398 (EUR 104) one-way, but only as part of a return ticket. There’s a catch, though (because of course there is): this promo applies for travel between June 1 and November 30, 2025—excluding July and August (peak holiday season, sorry).

If you want to snag these deals, bookings are open from January 27–29, 2025. Yes, that’s a tiny booking window, so if you blink, you might miss it.

Why Milan?

If you need a reason to visit Milan (other than "Because it's Milan"), here are a few:

✅ The Duomo – Because no trip is complete without marveling at a ridiculously ornate Gothic cathedral.
✅ Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – A shopping arcade so fancy it makes your local mall look like a gas station convenience store.
✅ Pasta & Panettone – Because carbs don’t count when you're on vacation.
✅ Fashion – You might leave Milan looking more stylish than when you arrived. (Or at least feeling like it.)

More Flights = More Convenience

With departure times set in the morning, afternoon, and evening from Abu Dhabi, Etihad is making it as easy as possible to incorporate Milan into your schedule whether for work, a shopping spree, or an all-out holiday excursion in Italy.

Etihad Expands Abu Dhabi Milan Route

So, if you've been dreaming of Milan, now’s your chance.