United Makes History with the Largest-Ever South Pacific Expansion

American Legacy Carrier United Airlines is gearing up for a busy summer, fall, and winter season, The airline recently announced the summer network, with 100+ destinations served from the USA.

However, ambitious in its efforts to improve connectivity and boost growth, the airline again announced this morning a large number of new routes which will begin at varying times during the best northern winter.

The routes are part of what the airline calls "the largest South Pacific Expansion in Aviation History" and consist of Australian and New Zealand routes for Americans and Australians to connect over the winter.

United will inaugurate the following over the 2023 Northern Hemisphere winter:

San Francisco — Christchurch, NZ

The airline will offer three weekly flights to the biggest city on the south Island of New Zealand. It will also become the very first airline to ever connect New Zealand's South Island with North America.

The route will be operated using the airline's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which are equipped with the airline's newest in-flight amenities. The flights, subject to government approval, will begin on December 1st, 2023.

Los Angeles — Auckland, NZ

United will build services to New Zealand and cement its position as the largest US-Based airline to fly to Auckland. United is the only year-round operator of flights between the United States and Auckland with an existing San Francisco service. The new route from Los Angeles will be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and is set to inaugurate on October 28, 2023.

Los Angeles — Brisbane, AU

United began serving Brisbane, Australia, in 2022 with service from San Francisco. The carrier positioned itself as the only airline to fly nonstop between the coastal city and the United States. The airline will complement the existing service with the new route from Los Angeles, set to begin on November 29, again using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the route. 

Additional Services to Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney

United will increase from thrice-weekly to daily Boeing 787-9 service from San Francisco to Brisbane on October 28, offering more than double the 2022 levels of capacity.

United will add capacity to Sydney, flying twice-daily 777-300ERs from San Francisco as well. This will cement the airline as having the most flights to Sydney than any other American carrier.

United is finally set to add 65% more flights to Melbourne this winter. The carrier will increase from 10 to 14 weekly flights.