United Airlines’ inaugural Melbourne to San Francisco nonstop service took-off yesterday (Oct 31), marking the fifth Australian route for the US carrier.
The nonstop, year-round service between Melbourne and San Francisco will fly three times per week on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring 252 seats (48 United Polaris business class, 88 Economy Plus and 116 United Economy).
The new route means Americans can now connect to Melbourne from more than 70 one-stop destinations in the U.S. via United’s major San Francisco hub, including New Orleans, Miami, Nashville and Portland, Oregon.
The service is United’s second direct route from Melbourne to the United States, with the other route providing direct, non-stop access to Los Angeles.
“Australia continues to be a strong international market for United, and we are committed to connecting Australians to more destinations in North America,” said United’s Director for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti Sales, Julie Reid.
United started service to Australia in 1986 and today operates daily non-stop flights from Sydney to its Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco hubs, plus daily non-stop service from Melbourne to Los Angeles and now thrice-weekly to San Francisco.
All United flights between Australia and the United States are operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.