First of three direct United Airlines flights to Tinseltown lands in Brisbane

Brisbane has said G’day to LA, with the first of United Airlines’ tri-weekly flights from the US metropolis touching down in the River City on Friday.

Brisbane has said G’day to LA, with the first United Airlines flight from the US metropolis touching down on Friday.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flight UA283 landed in Brisbane just after 5am on Friday in the first of what will become three flights a week from the sprawling city of 18 million people.

It means United now offers 10 flights a week linking Brisbane with the US, following the launch last year of a Brisbane-San Francisco service which now operates daily.

Qantas also operates direct flights from Brisbane to LA, but tourism officials believe more operators create a better market for travellers as well as providing extra capacity for increased visitor numbers.

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said it was exciting to launch the United service ahead of the summer school holidays, when some one million international passengers will arrive and depart via the River City.

The inaugural United Airlines Los Angeles to Brisbane service lands at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Dan Peled

“We know a trip to LA and Disneyland has long been a bucket list item for many families,” he said.

“It is also great news for Queensland exporters and importantly, it will boost the flow of American visitors to Queensland.”

Tim Wallis, United’s regional manager for Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti, said the airline was “proud to expand our services between Brisbane and the US”.

“Australians are in the top five sources for international visitors to Los Angeles just as Americans are for Queensland, and we’re happy to offer travellers, and our trade partners, even more choice,” he said.

The flights also boost capacity for Queensland exporters. The inaugural United Airlines flight to San Francisco carried 15 tonnes of high-quality chilled Queensland beef bound for US dining tables. The San Francisco service has continued to carry full loads of exports including beef, lamb and seafood, generating millions of dollars of revenue for Queensland businesses and supporting local jobs.

Flight crew of United Airlines inaugural Los Angeles to Brisbane service greeted by indigenous didgeridoo performer Jake Fabila on arrival at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Dan Peled

Services will depart Los Angeles on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9pm and arrive in Brisbane at 5.15am, while flights will depart Brisbane at 12.45pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.