United Airlines ‘biggest move in aviation history’ in Australia and New Zealand

A US airline is making “the largest South Pacific expansion in aviation history” – and the move is going to give Aussies a lot more options.

America’s United Airlines is making a huge move Down Under.

The airline is adding 40 per cent more flights between the US and Australia and New Zealand next summer as part of the “largest South Pacific expansion in aviation history by any airline”.

United has said the move will see it become the largest carrier between the US and Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The airline will have capacity to carry nearly triple the number of passengers between Brisbane and the US than it did last year, with more San Francisco flights (from October 28) and a new direct route to Los Angeles (from November 29).

And from October 28, United will also offer more flights between San Francisco and Sydney, meaning it will offer “more flights to Sydney from the US than any other carrier”.

America’s United Airlines is adding 40 per cent more flights between the US and Australia and New Zealand. Picture: United Airlines

While the carrier said it already became the largest airline between the US and Melbourne last summer, it will increase capacity there too.

There won’t be new flights but the Melbourne to San Francisco route will use the airline’s largest planes – the 777-300ER – from October 28 to add nearly 100 daily seats to each departure.

The expansion will see nearly triple the number of passengers able to travel on United between Brisbane and the US. Picture: Liam Kidston

Across the ditch, United will have the first direct San Francisco-Christchurch service from December 1, making it the only airline to offer direct flights between the US and New Zealand’s South Island.

There will also be new flights between Auckland and Los Angeles.

When news.com.au asked United what prompted the expansion, the company said: “We made this expansion decision based on expected enough traffic demand on those routes and strong partnership with Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand.”

In a statement announcing the expansion, Patrick Quayle, United Airlines senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, referred to the move as a “historic expansion across five destinations in New Zealand and Australia”.

“This past [US] winter, United enhanced our network and became the largest carrier to the South Pacific region,” he said.

“Now, this upcoming [US] winter, we will expand even further.”