United Airlines Invests $2.6B in San Francisco Hub, Launches New Routes

United Airlines has announced it will expand its operations at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) by 20% during 2025 – as part of a long-term strategy to make the airport its leading global gateway on the West Coast.

This move positions United at activity levels higher than before the pandemic, with a 6% increase since 2019 and a 20% rise compared to last year. The upcoming summer will offer travelers about 300 daily flights from SFO, more than any other airline in the Bay Area.

United currently operates flights to 111 destinations worldwide from San Francisco, and over the past four years, it has added 11 new international destinations and 9 local destinations – including resumed flights to New Orleans, Kansas City, and Detroit, and new flights to San Jose, Costa Rica, and Panama City.

United airline plane at the airport

Among the notable additions in 2024–2025:

Restoration of routes to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City via Hong Kong

Seasonal flight to Adelaide, Australia

Second daily flight to Manila

New routes to Belize and Monterrey, Mexico

Increased frequencies to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta

United is also the only American airline operating direct flights to Europe from SFO, with 11 daily flights to 8 destinations – including Barcelona, Rome, and London.

Investment in Infrastructure and Employment

As part of its expansion, United is investing $2.6 billion in a wide-scale modernization project of Terminal 3, which will include new gates for wide-body aircraft, new lounges, retail spaces, an upgraded lobby, and advanced security systems.

Meanwhile, the company is also ramping up its local workforce: in 2024, more than 1,600 new employees were hired, and an additional 1,200 are expected to join in 2025.

Innovation in the Skies

United will operate a significant portion of its flights with fast Wi-Fi from Starlink, which will be launched free of charge for MileagePlus members on selected flights. Additionally, the company is showcasing an electric air taxi (Midnight) in partnership with Archer, as well as integrating Apple technologies within its app, including the use of AirTag for tracking baggage.

According to United CEO Scott Kirby: "The growth at San Francisco International Airport SFO is a direct result of our ambitious network strategy. We continue to innovate, lead, and build a global flight experience that is truly unmatched."