United Airlines will launch three routes between California and Australia and New Zealand next winter as the carrier expands its flights to those two Southern Hemisphere destinations by 40%.
United will begin flying four times per week between Los Angeles and Auckland on Oct. 28. Thrice-weekly Los Angeles-Brisbane service will launch on Nov. 29. Then, United will become the only airline to offer nonstop flights between the U.S. and New Zealand's South Island on Dec. 1 when it begins thrice-weekly San Francisco-Christchurch service.
The carrier will operate the San Francisco-Christchurch route with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. United will use the larger 787-9 Dreamliner variant for Los Angeles-Auckland and Los Angeles-Brisbane.
United will compete against Qantas on Los Angeles-Brisbane and against Air New Zealand on Los Angeles-Auckland.
In total, United plans to operate 66 weekly flights next winter to Australia and New Zealand.