United reduces Tokyo connections in a Pacific network revamp that emphasises more directs

United Airlines plans a realignment of its Pacific operations centred on increasing direct flights rather than stop-overs in Tokyo as the weakness in Japan's currency has dragged down the carrier's results in those markets for most of 2013. United is also building a strategy to directly serve non-traditional gateways to China as competitive capacity increases have also pressured the carrier's Pacific performance.

The adjustments are freeing up some aircraft for redeployment into new markets from United's Houston Intercontinental, Washington Dulles and Chicago hubs for new service to Europe, which perhaps seems like a safer option at the moment even as the region is on an at-best slow trajectory to economic recovery.

The success of these planned network shifts necessarily depends on execution, an area where United has faced challenges with respect to the merger with Continental. Now, getting it right will be central to the airline's Asian strategy.