United Airlines will begin nonstop service between Houston (IAH) and Sydney (SYD) starting January 18, 2018. The route will be operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and will cover approximately 8,596 miles, making it the airline’s second-longest nonstop flight. United’s longest nonstop route at that time is Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore (SIN).
This flight represents the first nonstop connection between Houston and Australia, providing a direct link for both business and leisure travelers.
The 787-9 assigned to the route features a premium cabin configuration with 48 fully lie-flat business-class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 layout, 63 Economy Plus seats, and 141 standard economy seats. The new service will compete with Qantas’ long-haul route between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), another of the world’s longest nonstop flights.
“Our Houston hub is stronger than ever and it continues to be an absolutely vital part of our industry-leading network,” said Scott Kirby, president of United Airlines. “We are honored to have served this vibrant city for nearly half a century. This intercontinental flight is another demonstration of United’s commitment to our customers who call Houston home, as well as the millions of customers who connect through Houston each year. With this new nonstop we will provide one-stop connections to more than 70 cities across North America, making travel to Sydney faster and more convenient than before.”