United Airlines to offer more flights out of SFO
United Airlines announces new flights and terminal upgrades at SFO
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby spoke to media as the airline announced it is planning to fly 20% more flights at SFO this summer compared to last summer.
SAN FRANCISCO - United Airlines announced Thursday that it will add more flights from San Francisco International Airport this year as travel demand rises.
Global gateway
What we know:
United currently serves 111 destinations worldwide from SFO and will operate 300 daily flights this summer.
"SFO is a crown jewel for United," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "We're winning more and more Bay Area customers because of our investments in the product, the experience and the places we fly."
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SFO, a global gateway, is United’s fastest-growing hub for flights to Latin America. In May, the airline will add new routes to San José, Costa Rica and Panama City. The airline also plans to fly nonstop to eight destinations in Europe from SFO this summer.
It's a comeback
What they're saying:
"San Francisco's economy is on the rise, and tourism is critical to our comeback. Our city is a global destination – United's expansion shows that people want to be here," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "These new flights will provide jobs for residents and make it easier for visitors to come here so they can experience everything that makes San Francisco the place to be."
For the winter holiday season, United will introduce new one-stop connections between San Francisco and Bangkok, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, via Hong Kong.
Starting in December, the airline will launch new seasonal service between San Francisco and Adelaide, Australia, and add a second daily, year-round flight to Manila.
Kirby told KTVU that the Thailand and Vietnam flights have a stopover in Hong Kong because of delays in new aircraft deliveries from Boeing.
"Ultimately, we would like to fly them nonstop out of here, but we need more aircraft deliveries to do that," said Kirby.
What's next:
United's flight additions at SFO come as the airport is undergoing a five-year, $2.6 billion renovation of Terminal 3, which is United's base of operations. The project will expand gate space for security, restaurants, retail, and new United Club locations.
The airline also plans to increase hiring in the Bay Area. United said it plans to hire 1,200 new employees in the Bay Area this year.
What we don't know:
Kirby said that while the Bay Area economy is strong, the airline has no plans to return to Oakland International Airport or substantially increase operations at San Jose Mineta International Airport.
"Maybe someday," Kirby told KTVU. "At the moment, we're concentrated here in San Francisco because it is the premier airport in the Bay Area, and we have a high degree of connectivity. It's just much harder to make a route work out of one of those markets."
United operates flights to Chicago, Denver, and Houston from San Jose. United closed its operations in Oakland in 2012.
The Source: United Airlines, KTVU interview with Scott Kirby