United Airlines is set to make history by launching a non-stop flight from San Francisco to Adelaide, South Australia, with the inaugural flight scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025. This new route will operate seasonally three times a week, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the first direct connection between the United States and Adelaide.
Connecting Continents
The new service will operate using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which offers a total of 257 seats, including United Polaris business class and Premium Plus premium economy options. The flight will depart San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 23:05 UTC, arriving in Adelaide Airport (ADL) at 09:30 local time two days later, due to the crossing of the international date line. The return flights will leave Adelaide at 14:55 local time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving back in San Francisco at 11:15 UTC on the same day.
This route expands United Airlines’ offerings in Australia, which already includes non-stop flights to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. With the addition of Adelaide, United becomes the only airline to provide non-stop services to four different Australian cities from SFO. As noted by Brenton Cox, managing director of Adelaide Airport, this connection is a major advancement for the airport and the region:
“Adelaide will now be connected directly to an entirely new continent – this is a core connection in our aviation network vision that has been decades in the making. This service will directly benefit business, investment, and our broader tourism economy.”
Benefits for Travelers
Historically, travelers from the United States to Adelaide faced lengthy stopovers at other Australian airports, such as Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. With this new service, passengers can now seamlessly travel from major US cities like Chicago, Washington, Denver, and Seattle to Adelaide with just one stop. This change is expected to increase demand on both sides of the Pacific, enhancing connectivity and accessibility for travelers.
Adelaide, with a population of approximately 1.4 million, is the largest city in South Australia. The region offers numerous tourist attractions, including Kangaroo Island, the Eyre Peninsula, and the Barossa Valley. By providing direct access to these sites, United Airlines anticipates an increase in tourism and business travel to the area.
In addition to the new route, United Airlines has announced daily flights to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, both accessible via Hong Kong. This expansion enhances the airline’s international offerings, ensuring a robust network for travelers.
Passengers on the new service will also benefit from United’s code-share partnership with local carrier Virgin Australia. This collaboration provides seamless connections to various destinations across Australia from Adelaide, including non-stop flights to cities such as Alice Springs, Canberra, and Perth, as well as popular trunk routes to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
The inaugural flight to Adelaide represents a significant step in improving international travel options for South Australians and opens new avenues for both business and leisure travel between the continents.
