United Announces Largest South Pacific Expansion Ever
Routes will include first nonstop San Francisco-Christchurch flights
by: Harvey Chipkin
United Airlines announced what it is calling the largest South Pacific network expansion ever to and from the continental US, including the first nonstop flight between San Francisco and Christchurch, set to commence on Dec. 1. This will be a three-times-weekly service on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
The airline said it will be the only carrier to directly connect the US and the South Island of New Zealand. With 66 flights between the US and Australia/New Zealand every week, United will operate nearly 40% more flights from the US to Australia and New Zealand during the next northern winter versus the same season last year.
United is adding new direct flights from Los Angeles to Brisbane and Auckland and increasing service to the region from its San Francisco hub, with daily flights to Brisbane, twice-daily flights to Sydney and flying larger aircraft to Melbourne. And because of the carrier’s relationships with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, according to the announcement, travelers can enjoy easy one-stop connections from these cities to more than 50 destinations in the region.
Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of global network planning and alliances for United, said the strong partnerships with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia “provide unparalleled connectivity, and with our historic expansion across five destinations in New Zealand and Australia, United is the clear choice for customers’ travel to the region.”
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