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United starts Melbourne-San Francisco nonstop flights

written by Mic Cullen | October 31, 2019

A file image of a Boeing 787-9 in Melbourne in 2015. (Rob Finlayson)
A file image of a United Boeing 787-9 in Melbourne. (Rob Finlayson)

United Airlines has launched a nonstop Melbourne-San Francisco service, the airline’s fifth route between Australia and the US.

The inaugural service of UA60, operated by Boeing 787-9 N24973, touched down at Melbourne Airport a little before 0830 local time on Thursday, following its 15-hour journey from San Francisco.

The aircraft was on the ground at Tullamarine for about two hours before operating the reciprocal UA61 back to San Francisco.

There was an official ribbon cutting and presentations in the terminal area before the departure from Melbourne.

A celebratory cake for the launch of United's new Melbourne-San Francisco service.
A celebratory cake for the launch of United’s new Melbourne-San Francisco service. (United/SDP Media)
Passengers on the inaugural UA61 from Melbourne to San Francisco received a commemorative certificate.
Passengers on United’s inaugural UA61 from Melbourne to San Francisco received a commemorative certificate. (United/SDP Media)

The new route joins Sydney-Houston, Sydney-Los Angeles, Sydney-San Francisco and Melbourne-Los Angeles in the airline’s Australian network. All routes were served with 787 equipment.

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It also flies between Auckland and San Francisco with Boeing 777-200ERs.

United said those travelling from Melbourne would be able to connect to about 70 one-stop destinations in the US from the airline’s San Francisco hub.

“Australia continues to be a strong international market for United, and we are committed to connecting Australians to more destinations in North America,” the airline’s director for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti sales Julie Reid said in a statement.

“We know Australians love San Francisco and are proud we can now deliver Melbournians there in style.”

United director for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti sales Julie Reid.
United director for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti sales Julie Reid. (United/SDP Media)

United’s 787-9s were configured to carry 252 passengers in a three-class configuration, comprising 48 business class seats, 88 extra legroom economy seats and 116 economy seats.

Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Andrew Gardiner noted San Francisco was the second most visited destination on the US west coast from the Victorian capital.

“The service meets the demand we’re seeing between Melbourne and the US, and given San Francisco International Airport is United Airlines’ hub, there will be no-shortage of on-going flights available for Victorian travellers to choose from, providing connections to both the west and east coast,” Gardiner said in a statement.

United will be the second airline offering nonstop flights between Melbourne and San Francisco. Qantas started flying the route, also with 787-9s, in September 2018.

Pilots and cabin crew prior to the departure of UA61 from Melbourne to San Francisco.
United staff prior to the departure of UA61 from Melbourne to San Francisco. (United/SDP Media)

Flight schedules for the Melbourne-San Francisco service:

Flight Number/Routing
Days of operation
Time of departure
Time of arrival

UA60 San Francisco-Melbourne

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

22:45

09:30+2

UA61 Melbourne-San Francisco

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

11:30

06:40

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Comments (5)

  • Harrison

    says:

    Does anyone think United will start Australia to Hawaii flights in the future

    • John

      says:

      you mean restart ?

      More a leisure route & United costs are extremely high, so probably not.

  • Shiv

    says:

    Please make a correction, the Auckland to San Francisco flight on United is no longer seasonal

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      Dear Shiv,
      Apologies for the error. The story has been updated. Thank you for reading.

  • TP

    says:

    Does anyone know who made this cake ?

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