The primary ever direct passenger flight between the USA and South Australia has touched down, with the brand new United Airways service from San Francisco touchdown at Adelaide Airport on December 13.
Passengers onboard the inaugural flight have been greeted on the arrivals gate with quite a lot of South Australian icons, together with Jurlique, Haigh’s, and Penfolds to entice them to pattern extra of what South Australia has to supply throughout their keep.
United marked the historic event with a particular ‘Adelaide’ design on the plane, resembling a large postage stamp, highlighting United’s new connection to Adelaide.
The ‘Adelaide’ stamp decal will keep on this plane for the following few weeks because it flies round United’s world route community – showcasing Adelaide to the world.
United will function the flight three-times weekly seasonally by way of March 2026, with the San Francisco to Adelaide flight taking slightly below 16 hours, whereas the flight out of Adelaide to San Francisco will probably be barely shorter.
United will function the flights with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane providing 257 seats, together with 48 all-aisle-access flatbed seats in United Polaris enterprise class.
United Polaris enterprise class is a premium journey expertise that prioritises rest and luxury, that includes high quality inflight eating, amenity services and products from Brooks Brothers, Perricone MD and Saks Fifth Avenue and full flat-bed seats with all aisle entry.
“The primary ever direct flights between Adelaide and the USA are actually within the air,” mentioned the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas.
“This represents an enormous leap ahead for aviation in South Australia and brings a giant financial increase to the state, extra guests and extra alternatives for enterprise and freight which is able to inject thousands and thousands into our state.
“The US is a key strategic associate for South Australia, most notably by way of the AUKUS settlement.
“South Australia’s commerce hyperlinks to the US are additionally effectively established with key exports together with wine, meat (particularly beef), fruit and greens, and even nuts.”
The brand new service means United turns into the one airline with nonstop service between the USA and 4 Australian cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and now Adelaide – to the USA.
The flight additionally serves as a one-stop connection for travellers from Perth, who’re presently not served by a United States direct route.
The brand new route additionally affords South Australian clients seamless connections to greater than 40 locations throughout the USA, together with New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
United flies to greater than 100 cities all over the world from its hub in San Francisco, together with locations in North and Central America, plus connections to Europe.
“Being the primary airline to supply service between Adelaide and the U.S. is an thrilling step for United and for travellers on each side of the Pacific,” mentioned United Airways Senior Vice President – Community Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle.
“This new route is about connecting individuals to locations they wish to go – whether or not that’s visiting household, opening doorways for enterprise and commerce, or discovering the world-class meals, wine and pure magnificence in San Francisco, Adelaide and past.
“We’re proud to make these journeys simpler and to help the rising ties between our two nations, and we thank South Australia for the nice and cozy welcome you’ve proven us,” he mentioned.
Eligible company could have entry to the Virgin Australia Enterprise Lounge at Adelaide Airport forward of their departure.
