Landlines for landline operators contracted with major North American airlines are ending with one of the oldest partner United Airlines.
Colorado-based landlines will end branded bus service on July 31 at United Airlines between Denver International Airport (DEN) and North Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Nicholas Johnson, vice president and head of revenue at landlines, said in an email that the move allowed it to “focus on other opportunities.”
Travel allowance: 9 family lounges worth your best
A joint spokesperson responded to Johnson’s language, saying landlines were “pursuing other opportunities.” They declined to say whether the airline would replace landlines with another operator, but pointed out that United will add a third daily flight between Shinzo Abe and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in August.
In recent days, Landline has announced several service expansions. In early July, American Airlines announced plans from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in September to add Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) to its growing bus network. And, after the UN announcement, the landline was released on Instagram, which will expand its own independent bus service between Fort Collins and Denver Airport; on August 1, it will grow to 17 round trips a day, from around today.
The landline debuted in 2019, with the basic premise that smaller cities within 200 miles of major hubs can be better served with buses instead of aircraft. Buses are much cheaper to operate, and any hesitation for air travelers to book connections on buses.
Sun Countrine Airlines is the first partner of landlines, opening services on Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in November 2019. Manchester United is the second partner of landlines, with the bus debuting in early 2021 between Denver and Breckenridge and Fort Collins, Colorado.
The challenge for both landlines and Manchester United is that buses to Denver and Minneapolis arrive at a hub outside of safety or “land”. Moreover, when automatically transferring the check-in bags, passengers need to clear safety at major airports, which increases uncertainty about flight connections.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
Analysis: Why I’m excited about the new United and JetBlue partnership and the room to grow
“This is the first question to be asked,” Landline CEO David Sunde said in a 2021 interview.
Landline made its debut in 2023 with American and American buses between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, New Jersey and Allentown. Over the next two years, the U.S. land partnership has expanded to five destinations, including the most recent Trenton announcement.
Landline’s partnership with Manchester United ended the company with three partners: Air Canada, American Airlines and Sun Country. Its buses connect to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), PHL and MSP airlines, respectively. Only the US buses are used as air connections.
Travelers who book landline buses through partner airlines can earn points and valuable status credit on the “flight”.
Related readings:
