United Airlines is launching its largest international expansion ever from its San Francisco International Airport hub. The Chicago-based carrier will introduce several new non-stop routes, including year-round service to Toronto (YYZ) and Melbourne (MEL), Australia, along with seasonal flights to New Delhi (DEL), India, beginning this year.
In addition to those routes, United will add a second daily flight between San Francisco and Seoul (ICN), South Korea. The carrier will also inaugurate new year-round, non-stop service from San Francisco to Auckland (AKL), New Zealand; Papeete (PPT), Tahiti, French Polynesia; and Amsterdam (AMS).
United is pursuing government approvals for the planned twice-daily, year-round service between San Francisco and Toronto, which is expected to begin March 31. Non-stop, year-round service between San Francisco and Melbourne will operate three times per week starting Oct. 29. Seasonal service to New Delhi is slated to begin Dec. 5.
Starting March 30, United will become the first U.S. carrier to fly nonstop between California and Amsterdam. On April 1, the airline will add the second daily San Francisco–Seoul flight. The year-round flights between San Francisco and Papeete, Tahiti, operating Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and the three-times-weekly year-round service between San Francisco and Auckland both begin March 30.
“This route expansion solidifies United’s position at San Francisco as the gateway airline serving destinations across the Pacific, the continental United States, as well as to Europe and beyond,” said Oscar Munoz, United’s CEO. “It serves as a fitting capstone to all our efforts that made 2018 a breakthrough year for United, from delivering strong financial performance to currently leading in on-time departures for the second year in a row.”