United Airlines discontinues 2 transpacific routes for the winter season

United Airlines is making adjustments to its transpacific routes, with plans to suspend its seasonal service from Los Angeles to Brisbane, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter. This decision comes as part of a network adjustment that will see the airline end its seasonal service to both destinations, which were launched just last year.

The move marks a slight pullback for United, which has been aggressively expanding its transpacific footprint over the past year. In the first quarter of 2024, the airline’s transpacific capacity was up around 66% year over year, showcasing its commitment to the region. However, during the company’s recent earnings call, United executives acknowledged some challenges in its growing long-haul Pacific network, with revenue per available seat mile expected to be down compared to last year.

Despite the suspension of service from Los Angeles, United loyalists will still have options to fly to the South Pacific from the airline’s San Francisco hub. United plans to increase capacity on its San Francisco-to-Brisbane route by upgauging to a Boeing 777-300ER, offering more seats and amenities for passengers. Additionally, the airline will boost frequencies on the San Francisco-to-Auckland route, transitioning to daily service during the winter season.

While the network adjustment may disappoint some travelers, United’s strategic focus on optimizing its transpacific routes demonstrates its commitment to providing efficient and reliable service to passengers flying across the Pacific Ocean.