United has announced that it will resume nonstop flights between San Francisco and Melbourne.
Starting 2nd June 2022, United will once again operate 3-flights-a-week between San Francisco International Airport and Melbourne Airport. The flights will operate with the following schedule:
- San Francisco-Melbourne
- Departure time: 22:45
- Arrival time: 07:30 (+2 days)
- Flight time: 15 hours and 45 minutes
- Flight number: UA60
- Frequency: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- Melbourne-San Francisco
- Departure time: 09:30
- Arrival time: 07:05
- Flight time: 14 hours and 35 minutes
- Flight number: UA61
- Frequency: Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- Note: This flight resumes on 5th June 2022 (a one-off flight on Sundays. After that, all the other flights on this route will depart on the above-mentioned 3 days)
These flights will be operated by United’s Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner featuring 48 Polaris Business Class seats, 21 Premium Plus seats (Premium Economy Class seats), 39 Economy Plus seats (extra legroom Economy Class seats) and 149 standard Economy Class seats.
Related: Qantas to launch nonstop flights between Melbourne and Dallas
Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of International Network and Alliances, United, said:
The fact that we retained daily passenger service to Australia throughout the lowest points of the pandemic – and were the only airline to do so – shows our commitment to Australia. We are thrilled to resume our San Francisco to Melbourne service and see a bright future ahead for United, for Melbourne and for US-Australia travel.
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United’s San Francisco-Melbourne service is complemented by existing Los Angeles-Sydney and San Francisco-Sydney service. United will now be the only U.S. airline to offer nonstop flights from the United States to Melbourne.
Since Australia announced in February that the country would open its borders to international travelers after being closed for nearly two years, the airline says that “here has been remarkable growth in travel demand from the U.S.”.
United has more capacity from the United States to Australia than any other U.S. carrier. Additionally, United’s recently announced commercial alliance with Virgin Australia will offer further connectivity to top Australian destinations with convenient one-stop flights.
United says that it has worked closely with the Victorian government on the resumption of this service, as well as on broader plans for the market as demand continues to grow.
Martin Pakula, Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, said:
We’re backing more direct international flights to Melbourne because we know the critical role they play in supporting Victorian businesses and creating jobs. Having more direct flights from the U.S. means it is even easier for visitors to come to Victoria and enjoy everything we are famous for – whether that’s our major sporting events, food scene or cultural institutions.
United began offering direct service to Melbourne from Los Angeles in 2014 and launched nonstop flights between San Francisco and Melbourne in October of 2019, before suspending the route due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Featured image by United
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