United Airlines Adds Direct San Francisco–Adelaide Route
United Airlines is adding Adelaide to its global network, becoming the only U.S. carrier to offer direct service from the mainland United States to South Australia.
Starting December 11, 2024, United will operate three weekly flights between San Francisco (SFO) and Adelaide (ADL). The 15-hour, 55-minute flight will be flown on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with UA207 departing San Francisco at 11:05 PM and arriving in Adelaide at 9:30 AM two days later. The return flight, UA208, will depart at 2:55 PM local time and arrive back in California at 11:15 AM.
According to aviation data from Cirium, this marks the first direct or one-stop U.S.–Adelaide connection since at least 2000. Previously, passengers from cities like Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Francisco had to make one or more stops to reach Adelaide.
The route was revealed on April 2 following a teaser from United the day before, where the airline hinted at “three new dots” on its route map. In addition to Adelaide, United is launching flights to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City via Hong Kong, subject to final government approvals. A second daily flight to Manila is also planned.
With this addition, United will now serve four Australian cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide—solidifying its transpacific presence heading into 2025.