United Airlines has positioned its San Francisco hub as a pivotal center for its operations, surpassing neighboring Los Angeles in size and serving as a principal transpacific hub. With the airport’s strategic location, United offers extensive non-stop services to destinations around the Pacific Rim, making it the largest carrier at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
In terms of market share, United controls approximately 45% at SFO, leading its competitors, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The airline’s presence is strengthened through partnerships with Star Alliance members, including Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. United’s services extend across key domestic and international routes, feeding into its larger network connecting Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.
Toby Enqvist, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of United Airlines, highlighted the excellent progress at SFO during an April 3 event. He expressed appreciation for the 13,000 employees supporting United’s burgeoning operations, which are anticipated to expand to 14,000 workers by the year’s end. Enqvist remarked that SFO hosts the highest percentage of United’s widebody aircraft, facilitating substantial cargo transport.
United’s San Francisco operations heavily support premium passengers, primarily driven by Silicon Valley traffic, which includes contracts with major corporations like Google, Apple, Meta, and Salesforce. The airline’s comprehensive route network includes destinations in Asia, Europe, and emerging markets. Domestically, routes such as New York, Boston, Washington, and Chicago are noted for their premium-heavy offerings.
Operational data from Cirium reveals popular United routes this April include Newark, Chicago O’Hare, and Houston Intercontinental. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 and Boeing 757 are prevalent aircraft types used at SFO, with regional routes like Reno seeing significant Embraer E175 flights. Internationally, London Heathrow is a leading destination, serviced primarily by the Boeing 777.
Moving forward, United plans to expand further with the introduction of Airbus A321XLR aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels. New routes are planned for 2025, with year-round services to Panama City and San Jose and a much-anticipated direct route to Adelaide, South Australia, launching on December 11. United’s ambitions continue to target robust international and domestic connectivity from its San Francisco hub.
