Air travel history was created on Saturday morning when a United Airlines flight touched down at Adelaide Airport, the first of many set to undertake the long-haul flight (about 16 hours from San Francisco to Adelaide, a little less when travelling the other way).
The arrival of United Airlines follows a suite of new and expanded international airline services into Adelaide this year, from carriers including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern (starting mid-2026), Qantas, and Air New Zealand.
Starting at three flights each week until the end of March 2026, United Airlines will arrive in Adelaide at 9.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with return services taking off for San Francisco later the same day at 2.55pm.
Last financial year South Australia saw 44,000 visitors from the US, an 8 per cent increase on the year prior, contributing $81 million to the state’s economy.
The flight operates on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring 257 seats, 48 of which are in United Polaris Business Class, along with 21 in United Premium Plus.
The new service also means United becomes the only airline with nonstop service to and from four Australian cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and now Adelaide.
United Airlines Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances Patrick Quayle said that being the first airline to provide service between Adelaide and the US was "an exciting step for United and for travellers on both sides of the Pacific".
"This new route is about connecting people to places they want to go – whether that’s visiting family, opening doors for business and trade, or discovering the world-class food, wine and natural beauty in San Francisco, Adelaide and beyond," Mr Quayle said.
"We’re proud to make these journeys easier and to support the growing ties between our two countries, and we thank South Australia for the warm welcome you’ve shown us."
Adelaide Airport Managing Director Brenton Cox said the launch opened up an entirely new continent for "South Australians heading abroad, tourism operators looking to attract US visitors, and businesses seeking new export markets".
"This is a core connection in our aviation network vision that has been decades in the making,” Mr Cox said.
