United Airlines is set to launch non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne in October in a significant boost to Australian inbound tourism.
The airline currently flies to Melbourne via Sydney on a daily basis and that will be tweaked once the new flights commence on October 26, 2014.
United will operate the LA-Melbourne direct flights with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner six times per week.
“We are excited about using the newest version of the Dreamliner, the 787-9, to provide nonstop trans-Pacific service to Melbourne,” said United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer, Jim Compton.
“Our customers on these new flights will enjoy a more convenient itinerary, as well as improved inflight comfort and amenities.
“At the same time, we will seek to make changes to our Sydney schedule which will enable faster connections via our San Francisco and Los Angeles hubs from points throughout the Americas,” Compton said.
With the launch of nonstop Los Angeles-Melbourne service, United will end service between Melbourne and Sydney.
The airline said it would seek to retime its daily departures from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Sydney in order to allow a greater range of connections beyond the hubs and to provide more convenient arrival times for customers on connecting flights from Sydney to New York and other East Coast destinations.