United Airlines operates flight routes between San Francisco and Adelaide three times a week.
The first direct flight between South Australia and the United Airlines will take off in December 2025, operated by United Airlines.
The 15-hour flight between San Francisco and Adelaide will be on sale three times a week from December to March 2025, with tickets available until April 4th.
The new route will not stop in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, but will help Adelaide residents fly to the United States. It also offers great tourism opportunities for South Australia and benefits the US by providing direct links to San Francisco.
The South Australian government is looking forward to new connections that will boost the economy through tourism, trade, meetings and business events.
Prime Minister Peter Marinauska described the news as “a historic opportunity for South Australians.”
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“With our state’s economy outweighs the nation, the historic auricle agreement is set to promote unprecedented investment in South Australia. Now is the right time for direct flights to the US.”
Tourism and business victory
The new route is expected to increase US tourism in South Australia, which already welcomed 44,000 US visitors last year and has donated $77 million to the local economy.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettyson highlighted the cultural similarities between California and South Australia, particularly in wine and coastal tourism.
“It’s a great coincidence that Napa Valley is an hour north of San Francisco, just as Barossa is an hour north of Adelaide,” she said.
“American guests know that South Australia is a great place to experience unique environments and wildlife. They lock themselves up with kangaroos and koalas, and swim with dolphins and sea lions.”
Brenton Cox, managing director of Adelaide Airport, described the news as a key moment for the airport, the community and South Australia.
Cox said the service would directly benefit businesses, investments and the broader tourism economy.
“We will further increase business connectivity and export and supply chain opportunities with North America, which will improve links with the state’s second largest export market,” he said.
United Airlines will be the only airline that offers direct flights to four Australian cities, as well as direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and now Adelaide.
The airline also announced new routes to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, further expanding its Asia-Pacific network.
Sam Shinohara, managing director of APAC Airport operations at United Airlines, said the new flight route between San Francisco and Adelaide adds almost 25,000 seats between the US and Australia each year.
Global Entry Program has been expanded to Australia
The news comes days after the Australian Senate passed a law that allowed for rapid intrusions between the US and Australia for eligible citizens.
The Global Entry Program allows Australians to apply for quick entry into the US on arrival in the second half of 2025.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the programme will strengthen commercial ties between the two countries as it “makes travel easier for Australians.”
Defense Minister Andrew Hasty supported the move, explaining that “we would like to have a better experience on the other end of our journey to the United States with quick entry through US customs.”
