United Airlines plans to add nearly 40 percent more flights than last season between the United States and Australia and New Zealand for its next northern winter schedule, the carrier announced Tuesday.
Starting Dec. 1, United will launch direct San Francisco-Christchurch, New Zealand, service, making it the “only carrier to directly connect the U.S. and the South Island of New Zealand,” according to the carrier. The route will operate three times weekly using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
United beginning Oct. 28 will add four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Auckland, using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. On Nov. 29, the carrier will launch three weekly flights between Los Angeles and Brisbane using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
In addition, United on Oct. 28 will increase its flights to daily between San Francisco and Brisbane using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. It also on Oct. 28 will begin twice-daily flights between San Francisco and Sydney using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Further, on Oct. 28 the carrier will upgauge its aircraft to Boeing 777-300ER on its San Francisco-Melbourne route, adding nearly 100 daily seats to each departure.
United claims that with 66 flights per week, it will have more flights and will service more destinations between the U.S. and each Australia and New Zealand than any other carrier in the world.
