United Airlines’ massive Asia-Pacific expansion is set to take off even further, with the carrier set to launch new flights to Manila and Hong Kong from California, while also increasing services to Tokyo and Taipei.
The new flights to the Philippines, in particular, will be a milestone for the carrier with United set to become the first USA airline to fly direct to Manila from the continental United States.
In total, the airline will fly long-haul flights to 15 different international destinations across the Pacific this winter and excluding mainland China flying, United’s transpacific network will be 50% larger than all other United States airlines combined.
United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, Patrick Quayle, said this expansion builds on the continued growth of United’s international network.
Earlier this year, the airline made the largest South Pacific network expansion in aviation history – adding 40% more flights between the United States and Australia/New Zealand – and this summer United is flying its largest-ever schedule across the Atlantic, 32% larger than the airline’s 2019 schedule and 10% larger than the next largest United States carrier, according to Quayle.
“United offers more flights to more destinations across the Pacific than all other United States airlines combined,” he said. “United is the flag carrier of the U.S. and we are excited to bring this new service to Manila while expanding access to Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo.”
Beginning October 29, United will fly between San Francisco and Manila with a Boeing 777-300ER. The airline is already the only United States carrier to serve Manila from Guam and Palau, and will soon be the only to offer non-stop service to the Philippines from the continental United States.
Additionally, starting October 28, United will launch new service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, building on its existing services from San Francisco. In total this winter, United will have three daily flights to Hong Kong from Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In Tokyo, United will resume non-stop flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo/Narita with a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, adding to its existing service between Los Angeles and Tokyo-Haneda. The airline will also increase flying to Taipei with a second daily year-round service from San Francisco with a Boeing 777-200ER, providing customers new time options to fly between the two cities.
Earlier this year, United announced the largest South Pacific network expansion ever to and from the continental United States.
This upcoming northern winter, United will operate 66 flights between the U.S. and Australia/New Zealand every week, including becoming the only airline to offer non-stop service to Christchurch, New Zealand with new service from San Francisco; building on its position as the largest United States airline to Auckland by adding four weekly flights from Los Angeles; serving as the largest carrier between the United States and Brisbane with a new route from Los Angeles; and offering daily flights between San Francisco and Brisbane and Melbourne and twice daily flights between San Francisco and Sydney.