If you’ve flown through SFO recently, you’ve seen it—United Airlines is everywhere. And that’s no accident. This summer, United will fly nearly 300 daily departures from San Francisco. That’s its biggest SFO schedule since 2019—and more than any other airline in the Bay Area.
United isn’t just maintaining its presence. It’s growing aggressively to lock in its position as the Bay Area’s biggest airline. In just four years, United added 11 international and nine domestic destinations from SFO. That includes returning routes to New Orleans, Detroit, and St. Louis. It also includes new flights to San Jose, Costa Rica and Panama City, Panama launching next month.
If you’re flying from SFO, odds are you’re flying United. Alaska has slowed down since merging with Virgin America and Hawaiian airlines. Meanwhile, United continues to scale up.
“We’re winning more and more Bay Area customers because of our investments in the product, the experience and the places we fly,” said CEO Scott Kirby.
He spoke at an April 3 event that showcased United’s latest aircraft—like a new 787-9, an A321neo, and the Archer Midnight eVTOL.
“Our growth in SFO is a direct result of United’s ambitious network strategy,” Kirby said. “It’s what sets us apart.”
Terminal 3 Transformation
United’s expansion doesn’t stop at new routes. The $2.6 billion Terminal 3 West Modernization Project is well underway. The upgrade includes new gates, a redesigned lobby, faster security checkpoints, and 200,000 more square feet for food and retail. It also supports larger aircraft and gives United the space it needs to keep growing. The modernization project should be completed by 2029.
To match the growth, United added 1,600 new airport team members in 2024 and plans to hire 1,200 more in 2025.
Leading the West Coast to the World
United is solidifying SFO as the West Coast’s global gateway. Just this year, United launched new flights to Belize and Monterrey, Mexico. Next month, Costa Rica and Panama join the map.
That brings United to nine Latin American destinations from SFO—more than any other airline. Summer service to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos is ramping up too. Expect more options for sun-seekers headed south, because we all know on the west coast that escaping the gray is needed in the long wet winters!
In Europe, United stands alone. It’s the only U.S. carrier flying to Europe from SFO, offering up to 11 daily flights. Barcelona returns this summer with an extended season. Routes to Rome and triple-daily service to London Heathrow remain strong.
Dominating the Asia-Pacific and Beyond
SFO has anchored United’s trans-Pacific network for over 40 years. Today, it connects to 17 destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.
United flies 4.5 times more seats to the Pacific from SFO than any other U.S. hub. Making sense due to it’s position on the pacific. Offering awesome nonstop connections to China, Southeast Asia, Japan and more.
This winter, United will launch one-stop routes to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City via Hong Kong. Also in December: new service to Adelaide, Australia and a second daily flight to Manila.
No other U.S. airline flies to both destinations. More dots, more routes, more options! I applaud United’s ability to think outside the box and lead with new destinations
California Connections and Hawaiian Coverage
United runs the largest hub in California, flying more domestic routes from the Bay Area than anyone else.
It serves all five of SFO’s most popular domestic destinations.
And when it comes to Hawaii? United flies three times more often than the next competitor. It’s the only airline with daily year-round service to all four major islands!
Bottom Line
United isn’t just adding routes—it’s building a fortress in San Francisco. Whether you’re flying to Adelaide or St. Louis, expect a United jet to be waiting.
