United Continues Growth at San Francisco International Airport, Adding 20% More Flying in 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

United Airlines announced a significant expansion at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), planning to increase flights by 20% in 2025. The airline will offer approximately 300 daily flights to 111 cities worldwide this summer, marking the highest number since 2019 and leading the Bay Area market.

The expansion includes new routes to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Adelaide, making United the only U.S. carrier serving these destinations. A $2.6 billion construction project is underway to modernize Terminal 3, expected to complete by 2029. The project will accommodate larger aircraft and enhance passenger facilities.

United, employing over 13,000 local team members, hired 1,600 employees in 2024 and plans to add 1,200 more in 2025. The airline's SFO hub leads in Pacific routes, offering 4.5 times more seats than any competitor, and serves as the primary gateway for flights to Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Positive

• 20% increase in flights at SFO compared to previous year
• Capacity up 6% since pre-pandemic levels (2019)
• $2.6 billion terminal modernization investment
• Expansion to new international routes as sole U.S. carrier
• Significant employment growth with 2,800 new hires (2024-2025)
• Market leadership in Pacific routes with 4.5x more capacity than competitors

Negative

• None.

Insights

Airline Industry Analyst

United's 20% capacity expansion at SFO in 2025 represents a significant strategic investment in one of its most profitable hubs. This growth follows a 6% capacity increase since 2019, demonstrating management's confidence in the region's demand fundamentals despite broader industry capacity concerns.

The $2.6 billion terminal modernization project through 2029 signals long-term commitment to SFO as both a domestic powerhouse and international gateway. This capital allocation prioritizes United's most premium-heavy market where high-yield business travelers can support the additional capacity.

United's Pacific network advantage is particularly noteworthy - offering 4.5x more seats than any competitor from any US hub this summer. The addition of unique destinations like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Adelaide strengthens their competitive moat in high-margin international markets where competitors lack adequate presence.

The planned 1,200 additional hires in 2025 (following 1,600 in 2024) indicates confidence in sustainable growth rather than temporary seasonal capacity. While this adds fixed costs, it reflects management's conviction that demand fundamentals support this expansion.

The technology investments in Starlink Wi-Fi, electric air taxis, and Apple integrations enhance United's premium positioning while creating operational efficiencies. These innovations help justify higher fares while improving the customer experience - crucial for United's strategy of competing on product rather than price alone.

United offers nearly 300 flights per day this summer to 100 destinations, the most since 2019 and more than any other airline in the Bay Area

New and only flights on a U.S. carrier to Bangkok, Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Adelaide, Australia, and a second daily flight to Manila, Philippines to start later this year

$2.6 billion construction project underway that will modernize and expand United's presence, further establishing SFO as a domestic and global gateway

SAN FRANCISCO, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United today announced it will add 20 percent more flying out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 2025, reflecting its long-term strategy to re-establish SFO as a global gateway. United is now larger in SFO than it was pre-pandemic, with capacity¹ up six percent since 2019, and 20 percent versus last year.

United flies to 111 cities around the world from San Francisco and will offer approximately 300 daily flights this summer – the most since 2019 and more than any other airline in the Bay Area. The airline has added 11 new international destinations and nine new domestic destinations from SFO in the last four years, including reinstated service to New Orleans, Kansas City, Detroit, and St. Louis, as well as new flights to San Jose, Costa Rica and Panama City, Panama starting this next month.

"We're winning more and more Bay Area customers because of our investments in the product, the experience and the places we fly," said United CEO Scott Kirby, who discussed the airline's strategy at an event today where United also showcased several aircraft, including a new Boeing 787-9, Airbus A321neo, and an Archer Midnight eVTOL. "Our growth in SFO is a direct result of United's ambitious network strategy, which has set us apart from the competition and cemented our status as the world's largest airline²."

A $2.6 billion airport construction project is underway, part of which is to modernize and expand Terminal 3 at SFO, paving the way for continued United growth in the future. United is also one of the Bay Area's largest employers, with more than 13,000 local team members. The airline hired more than 1,600 airport operations employees last year alone and plans to add 1,200 more in 2025.

"San Francisco's economy is on the rise, and tourism is critical to our comeback. Our city is a global destination – United's expansion shows that people want to be here," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "These new flights will provide jobs for residents and make it easier for visitors to come here so they can experience everything that makes San Francisco the place to be."

United's Global Gateway

United's hub in San Francisco is the leading global gateway from the West Coast, with the airline adding more direct flights to Asia, Europe, and Latin America in the last several years.

SFO is United's fastest growing hub to Latin America, with new routes to Belize and Monterrey, Mexico added in 2024, and new flights to San Jose, Costa Rica and Panama City starting in May. The new routes bring United to nine destinations in Latin America served from SFO, the most of any carrier. In addition to the new routes, United is adding more flights to existing destinations this summer, including additional daily flights to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.

United is the only U.S. airline to serve Europe from SFO, with a peak schedule of 11 daily flights to eight destinations. Seasonal service to Barcelona launched last year and returns for an extended season this summer, building upon new service to Rome and a seasonal third daily flight to London Heathrow added in 2022.

SFO also has a more than 40-year history as the airline's gateway across the Pacific and now offers flights to 17 different destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. This summer, United's SFO hub will have 4.5 times more seats on flights to the Pacific than any other airline from any other hub in the U.S. Yesterday, United announced it is expanding its industry-leading Pacific network and making it even easier for travelers to explore Asia and Australia. This winter the airline is launching new one-stop connections between San Francisco and Bangkok, Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam via Hong Kong. In addition, starting in December, United will add new seasonal-service between Adelaide, Australia and San Francisco, along with a second daily, year-round flight between San Francisco and Manila -- making United the only U.S. airline to fly to both destinations. 

United's SFO domestic offerings are unmatched throughout the state of California. The carrier operates the largest hub in the state, more domestic routes from the Bay Area than any other airline, and the most flights to all five of the most popular domestic destinations from SFO. United offers three times more flights to Hawaii from SFO than its closest competitor and is the only airline with daily year-round service from SFO to four Hawaiian Islands.

"We continue to challenge ourselves every season when we announce new service to hidden gem cities around the world," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances at United. "United keeps becoming the first and only U.S. airline to offer direct flights to these unique destinations, such as Rome, the Philippines, New Zealand and Belize, out of San Francisco in the last couple of years."

United's Ongoing Commitment to SFO

A five-year, $2.6 billion airport construction project set to be completed in 2029, which includes modernization and expansion of Terminal 3 at SFO, will pave the way for the airline's continued growth and elevate the customer experience.

Through SFO's Terminal 3 West Modernization Project, United will gain access to new common use gates to fit larger airplanes that can carry even more passengers on international flights, new United Club^SM locations, a state-of-the-art lobby and checkpoints with industry-first features, a brand-new curbside area for an enhanced curbside experience, and an extra 200,000 square feet of space for more dining and retail options.

"For nearly a century, United Airlines has been offering travelers the most flights and destinations out of San Francisco," said Mike Nakornkhet, SFO Airport Director. "We are excited to launch the Terminal 3 West Modernization, which will set a new benchmark for what United customers can look forward to at SFO. Our goal is to create an extraordinary airport experience for our guests, and we expect this project will continue to reflect the innovation, sustainability, and diversity that make San Francisco such an amazing place."

As one of the Bay Area's largest employers, United hired more than 1,600 new team members in 2024 alone, including flight attendants, pilots, customer service representatives, baggage handlers and maintenance technicians to support the airline's growing operations at SFO, and expects to hire 1,200 more in 2025. United offers competitive wages and comprehensive benefits packages to attract top-tier talent.

United's Innovation Leadership in SFO

As United grows in San Francisco and around the world, the airline continues to lead the way on collaborating with industry-leading technology partners to add game-changing innovations that improve the overall travel experience.

"We've been an innovation leader for years, and we're continuing to up our game," said United Chief Information Officer Jason Birnbaum. "We're investing in technology – like our award-winning mobile app and Starlink Wi-Fi – that drives United's amazing customer experience and puts intuitive tools in the hands of our employees around the world."

Recent innovations include:

• Starlink's industry-leading Wi-Fi coming soon: Next month, United will start offering Starlink Wi-Fi service, the world's fastest, most reliable connectivity in the sky, for free to MileagePlus members.  The Starlink Wi-Fi service will initially be available on select United Express flights. Starlink's low Earth orbit satellites deliver reliable, high-speed, low-latency internet and boost reliability over oceans and other remote areas, and this will allow for gate-to-gate internet service on long-haul flights.
• First commercial electric air taxi coming: As part of United's broader effort to invest in emerging technologies that enhance the customer travel experience and decarbonize air travel, the airline is working with Archer to launch the first commercial electric air taxi service. United Airlines is one of Archer's largest investors and the company's first customer in the United States. Midnight is an all-electric vertical take-off-and-landing aircraft with the potential for short, back-to-back trips of 20-50 miles, while carrying a pilot and up to four passengers.
• First-to-market innovations with Apple: For more than 10 years, United has worked with Cupertino, California-based Apple to bring industry-leading technology to the airline's customers and employees. United was the first airline to announce a paperless flight deck for pilots with iPad in 2011, and recently integrated Apple's new Share Item location feature with AirTag into the United app. United has also equipped all of its employees with iPhone and iPad, and developed custom apps that enable employees to communicate easier, complete tasks more quickly, and provide a more seamless travel experience for customers.
• Time-saving innovations for customers: For years, United has led the industry on adding game-changing innovations across the airline to help customers self-serve and stay informed during their travel journey. United travelers can skip the check-in line and drop off bags in under a minute on average at the designated bag drop shortcut location at the curb or in the lobby by checking bags in the app before arriving at the airport. United also texts links to real-time radar maps to help customers understand how inclement weather in one part of the country can impact a flight elsewhere. Plus, when travel doesn't go as planned, United customers will get alternate travel options automatically served to them in the app.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

¹ Capacity measured by seats
² As measured by Available Seat Miles and fleet size

 

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SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

How many daily flights will United Airlines operate from SFO in summer 2025?

United will operate approximately 300 daily flights from SFO in summer 2025, the highest number since 2019.

What new international destinations is UAL adding from San Francisco?

United is adding flights to Bangkok (Thailand), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Adelaide (Australia), plus a second daily flight to Manila.

How much is United investing in SFO Terminal 3 modernization?

United is investing $2.6 billion in a construction project to modernize and expand Terminal 3, set to complete in 2029.

How many new jobs is UAL creating at SFO in 2024-2025?

United hired 1,600 employees in 2024 and plans to add 1,200 more in 2025, totaling 2,800 new jobs.

What is United's current capacity growth at SFO compared to 2019?

United's capacity at SFO is up 6% compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.