United Airlines is one of the Bay Area’s largest employers, with more than 13,000 local team members
United Airlines, the largest international airline in the United States, has announced that it will add 20 pc more flying out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in the current year.
In a statement, United says that as of now it flies to 111 cities around the world from San Francisco and will offer approximately 300 daily flights this summer, the most since 2019 and more than any other airline in the Bay Area. The airline has also added 11 new international destinations and nine new domestic destinations from SFO in the last four years, including reinstated service to New Orleans, Kansas City, Detroit, and St Louis, as well as new flights to San Jose in Costa Rica and Panama City in Panama starting next month.
Scott Kirby
“We are winning more and more Bay Area customers because of our investments in the product, the experience and the places we fly. Our growth in SFO is a direct result of United’s ambitious network strategy, which has set us apart from the competition and cemented our status as the world’s largest airline,” says Scott Kirby, CEO, United.
The statement adds that United is also one of the Bay Area’s largest employers, with more than 13,000 local team members. The airline hired more than 1,600 airport operations employees last year alone and plans to add 1,200 more in 2025.
“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. 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,” says Daniel Lurie, Mayor, San Francisco.
According to the statement, United is the only US airline to serve Europe from SFO, with a peak schedule of 11 daily flights to eight destinations.
“We continue to challenge ourselves every season when we announce new service to hidden gem cities around the world. United keeps becoming the first and only US airline to offer direct flights to these unique destinations, such as Rome, the Philippines, New Zealand and Belize, from San Francisco in the last couple of years,” says Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances, United.
A five-year, USD 2.6 billion airport construction project set to be completed in 2029, which includes modernisation and expansion of Terminal 3 at SFO. Through the project, United will gain access to new common use gates to fit larger airplanes that can carry even more passengers on international flights, adds the statement.
“For nearly a century, United Airlines has been offering travellers the most flights and destinations out of San Francisco. We are excited to launch the Terminal 3 West Modernisation, which will set a new benchmark for what United customers can look forward to at SFO. Our goal is to create an extraordinary airport experience for our guests, and we expect this project will continue to reflect the innovation, sustainability, and diversity that make San Francisco such an amazing place,” says Mike Nakornkhet, Airport Director, SFO.
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