United Airlines to begin Houston-Sydney from January 2018

[Stefan Perkas]

Evening all,

United Airlines will begin Daily Houston-Sydney services from January 18th 2018 using B787-9's...

United Airlines today (07SEP17) opened reservation for its expanded service to Australia, as the airline launches Houston – Sydney route. Subject to Government Approval, Boeing 787-9 will operate this route on daily basis, from 18JAN18.

UA101 IAH2000 – 0630+2SYD 789 D
UA100 SYD1150 – 1035IAH 789 D

Based on schedule, approximate flying time from IAH is 17hrs 30mins, during 18JAN18 – 10MAR18 schedule.

Info from: http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...from-jan-2018/

[Justin L]

Wow. Will be interesting to see how that goes head to head with Qantas' SYD-DFW route.

[Kent Broadhead]

Interesting. I assume Houston is a decent United hub?

[James Smith]

United has certainly thrown down the gauntlet. Houston was a Continental hub which they inherited.

Now we wait for QANTAS to announce that it will operate non-stop to Chicago.

[Ben W]

I don't think the range of the 787-9 will get to SYD from ORD will it? If it's possible to do, I would see United trying SYD-ORD with their 787-9's before Qantas. Would love to see QF here in ORD but I doubt it in the short term.

[Adrian B]

What about the cruise market out of Florida? Auckland Miami is 13000km, Sydney Miami 15000? Takes LA and SF out of the picture and leaves you on the east coast with favourable connections to the Caribbean or even 9 hours to London?

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Ben W

I don't think the range of the 787-9 will get to SYD from ORD will it? If it's possible to do, I would see United trying SYD-ORD with their 787-9's before Qantas. Would love to see QF here in ORD but I doubt it in the short term.

Certainly possible and on the table for consideration given it’s an AA hub:

He said the planes could be used to fly direct from Brisbane to Chicago, Seattle, Dallas or Vancouver.

“Subsequent aircraft will be used to operate one of those new routes, we haven’t decided which one yet, but we will be making the announcement later in the year,” he said.

Alan Joyce at the Brisbane announcement on Dreamliners being based there.

[Ryan K]

My bet is on Vancouver. Qantas is letting Air Canada get too much of a stranglehold in this country.

[James Smith]

United has announced some reductions to UA101/100 in August, September and October, 2018.

United Airlines during the month of August and September 2018 is reducing Houston – Sydney service, currently served on daily basis. The Star Alliance member plans to operate 4-6 weekly, pending on operational week. Also, selected week in October also sees similar reduction.

Operational days listed below is based on IAH departure.

04AUG18 – 20AUG18 Day x27
21AUG18 – 11SEP18 Day x237
12SEP18 – 19SEP18 Day x7
20SEP18 – 27SEP18 Day x257
14OCT18 – 22OCT18 Day x27

UA101 IAH2240 – 0700+2SYD 789
UA100 SYD0915 – 1005IAH 789

Info from - https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ce-reductions/