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United Airlines is introducing the first-ever direct flights between Adelaide and the US at the end of this year, giving South Australians a break from the well-worn path to Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney for connecting flights.
The US airline released tickets today for the service which will initially start as a seasonal route departing San Francisco on 11 December 2025.
Subject to government approvals, the 15-hour flight will operate three times per week until March, with a possibility to increase in the future as demand grows.
The first flight from Adelaide will depart on 13 December 2025 with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner offering 257 seats, including 48 in United Polaris Business Class and 21 in United Premium Plus.
With Adelaide on board, United will be providing non-stop flights to the US from four major Australian cities, including existing routes to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
United also says the Adelaide flight will serve as a one-stop connection for travellers from Perth, who are currently not served by a direct US route.
“Today is an historic occasion for South Australians who have long wanted to fly direct to the United States,” says South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas in response to the United Airlines announcement.
“For many years, the ambition of a direct route between South Australia and the US has been out of reach.
“With our state’s economy outperforming the nation, and the historic AUKUS agreement set to drive unprecedented investment into South Australia, now is the right time for direct flights to the US.”
San Francisco is a major hub for United Airlines in the US, acting as the airline's primary west coast and trans-Pacific gateway, and as a major maintenance facility.
Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox says the new service marks a significant development for the airport and the state.
“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,” says Cox.
“United Airlines has seized this opportunity, and they will benefit greatly from this commitment to Adelaide and South Australia. This service will directly benefit business, investment and our broader tourism economy.
“We will now have even greater business connectivity and export and supply chain opportunities with North America, improving links with what is already our state’s second biggest export market.”
The US is a key tourism market for South Australia, attracting more than 44,000 visitors last year who contributed $77 million to the state’s economy.
Sam Shinohara, the managing director for APAC airport operations at United Airlines, says he is confident the direct flights will grow visitor numbers.
“We know that direct flights are a big factor in people deciding where to travel,” says Shinohara.
“This game-changing new flight will add almost 25,000 more seats between the US and Australia each year and makes United the only airline to offer non-stop service between the US and four major cities in Australia.
“Our strong partnership with Virgin Australia and our comprehensive US domestic network provide unparalleled connectivity, making United the clear choice for customers’ travel between the two countries.”
United has partnered with Virgin Australia since 2022, establishing codeshare co-operation, reciprocal loyalty benefits for Velocity Frequent Flyer members and United MileagePlus members.
Today’s announcement coincided with a range of new services by United Airlines from the US to major South-East Asian destinations due to growing demand.
United has announced expanded services between the US west coast and Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Hong Kong.
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