Airlines

United Airlines Announces Major Asia-Pacific Expansion, Including New Routes

The largest U.S. airline operating between the Atlantic and Pacific seas already, United today increases its service to the Asia-Pacific region by introducing extra non-stop flights to Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Taipei as well as a new direct flight from the continental U.S. to Manila. These brand-new routes will launch in October.

This winter, the airline will operate long-haul flights across the Pacific to a total of 15 different foreign locations. United’s transpacific network will be 50% bigger than the combined network of all other U.S. carriers, excluding flights to mainland China.

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United will start operating flights between San Francisco and Manila on October 29. The airline already provides nonstop service to Manila from Guam and Palau, and it will soon be the only one to do so from the mainland United States. In addition, United will begin additional service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong on October 28. This will expand on the company’s current flights from San Francisco.

In addition to its current service between Los Angeles and Tokyo-Haneda, United will resume non-stop flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo/Narita in Tokyo. Additionally, the airline will add a second daily flight from San Francisco to Taipei year-round, giving passengers fresh time options to travel between the two cities.

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San Francisco – Manila, Philippines*

With the commencement of its service between San Francisco and Manila on October 29, United will become the only U.S. airline with non-stop transpacific flights to the Philippines. The new route, which will fly daily on the airline’s largest aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, will complement the company’s already-existing service to Manila from Guam and Palau.

Los Angeles – Hong Kong*

With a new, direct daily trip from Los Angeles beginning on October 28, United, the only U.S. airline that flies non-stop to Hong Kong, will expand its service. Every day the flight will fly aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This winter, United will offer three daily flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Hong Kong.

Los Angeles – Tokyo/Narita

On October 28, United will begin daily, direct service on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner between Los Angeles and Tokyo/Narita. United will now provide a connection from Los Angeles to both of Tokyo’s international airports using its current service between Los Angeles and Tokyo/Haneda.

Australia & New Zealand Expansion

Earlier this year, United announced the largest South Pacific network expansion ever to and from the continental U.S. This upcoming northern winter, United will operate 66 flights between the U.S. and Australia/New Zealand every week. Highlights include:

Becoming the only airline to offer non-stop service to Christchurch, New Zealand with new service from San Francisco*
Building on its position as the largest U.S. airline to Auckland by adding four weekly flights from Los Angeles*
Serving as the largest carrier between the U.S. and Brisbane with a new route from Los Angeles*
Offering daily flights between San Francisco and Brisbane and Melbourne and twice daily flights between San Francisco and Sydney

Airlines

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.