United Airlines has slowly looked to become more and more of a leader in the world of ultra-long-haul flying. The airline has attempted to differentiate itself from its competitors through the development of a route network that emphasizes connections to destinations all across the globe, including a number that are exclusively operated by the Chicago-headquartered carrier. These routes have been a key market differentiator for the airline, and the carrier has been able to deploy both seasonal and year-round flights on these routes.