United Airlines, a major American airline will begin flying its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Australia from its hub in Los Angeles. The new direct flights to Melbourne are tagged as UA98/99, will run six days a week from 26th October and replace the current daily dogleg route which sees United’s Melbourne-LA flight via Sydney with one-hour stopover.
It represents a major upgrade in service from the US carrier. The 787-9 is 20 feet longer and will carry up to 40 more passengers as compared to the current 787-8 model of the Dreamliner. The 787-8 carries 210 to 250 passengers, while the 787-9 will carry 250 to 290 passengers. According to airline’s vice president and chief revenue officer, Jim Compton, the new service would benefit all of United’s customers in Australia.
With this new service Melbourne customers will enjoy faster journeys to Los Angeles and beyond and they will enjoy improved in-flight comforts and amenities at the same time. United will re-time its Sydney-San Francisco and Sydney-Los Angeles flights to allow for a greater range of connections beyond the hubs and more convenient arrival times for passengers travelling on connecting flights to New York and other US east coast destinations.
The move by United Airlines to add non-stop flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles and to maintain two daily flights from Sydney will increase competition on the trans-Pacific route.
It represents a major upgrade in service from the US carrier. The 787-9 is 20 feet longer and will carry up to 40 more passengers as compared to the current 787-8 model of the Dreamliner. The 787-8 carries 210 to 250 passengers, while the 787-9 will carry 250 to 290 passengers. According to airline’s vice president and chief revenue officer, Jim Compton, the new service would benefit all of United’s customers in Australia.
With this new service Melbourne customers will enjoy faster journeys to Los Angeles and beyond and they will enjoy improved in-flight comforts and amenities at the same time. United will re-time its Sydney-San Francisco and Sydney-Los Angeles flights to allow for a greater range of connections beyond the hubs and more convenient arrival times for passengers travelling on connecting flights to New York and other US east coast destinations.
The move by United Airlines to add non-stop flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles and to maintain two daily flights from Sydney will increase competition on the trans-Pacific route.
