United Airlines Resumes Los Angeles To Shanghai Flights

After an over four year hiatus, United Airlines is resuming service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Shanghai (PVG). This also makes United the only US carrier to fly nonstop between Los Angeles and Mainland China.

United resumes LAX to PVG flights with 787

As of August 29, 2024, United Airlines has resumed flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai. Specifically, the route operates with the following schedule:

More from OMAAT United CEO Scott Kirby Insists Critics Misunderstand His American Merger Vision Read more

UA198 Los Angeles to Shanghai departing 12:55PM arriving 5:45PM (+1 day)
UA199 Shanghai to Los Angeles departing 8:10PM arriving 4:55PM

The 6,485-mile flight is operated by a Boeing 787-9, and is blocked at 13hr50min westbound and 11hr45min eastbound. The service is initially operating 4x weekly, though as of the winter schedule (starting in late October 2024), it should increase to daily.

For context on this route resumption:

• The only other carrier flying this route nonstop is China Eastern, and the airline has a daily service with a Boeing 777-300ER
• United otherwise flies to Shanghai out of San Francisco (SFO)
• American and Delta also used to operate this route; American cut this service as part of its general reduction of long haul service out of Los Angeles, while Delta recently axed plans to resume this route

You would think there would be a lot of demand for a Los Angeles to Shanghai route, but it’s not as easy as it sounds, on both sides of the Pacific. For one, China demand just hasn’t recovered post-pandemic, and service continues to be a small fraction of what it once was, due to China’s weakening economy, plus the general hostility between the United States and China.

Furthermore, Los Angeles is a surprisingly tough long haul gateway. Each of the “big three” US carriers has at one point or another tried a big long haul push out of the airport, but hasn’t had much luck. It’s just a very competitive market, and it’s hard for any one airline to grow a market dominant position, both due to the economics, and due to the challenges with getting gate space.

United’s network at LAX is fairly impressive

Los Angeles is a market where all of the “big three” US carriers have a significant network, yet no airline is really the leader. We’ve seen all three US carriers try their hand at expanding service there, with limited success. However, as we look at how things have evolved, United is definitely pulling ahead at the airport when it comes to the number of long haul international destinations.

United’s long haul international destinations out of Los Angeles include Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Melbourne (MEL), Shanghai (PVG), Sydney (SYD), and Tokyo (HND & NRT), all on a year-round basis. United has also been flying from Los Angeles to Auckland (AKL) and Brisbane (BNE), on a seasonal basis, though those routes are being discontinued.

How does this compare to other airlines?

• American’s long haul international destinations out of Los Angeles include London (LHR), Sydney (SYD), and Tokyo (HND), on a year-round basis, as well as Auckland (AKL) on a seasonal basis
• Delta’s long haul international destinations out of Los Angeles include Paris (CDG), Sydney (SYD), and Tokyo (HND), on a year-round basis, as well as Auckland (AKL), Brisbane (BNE), and Tahiti (PPT), on a seasonal basis

I’m curious to see which direction capacity moves for all three carriers in Los Angeles. They always try something new, the question is just for how long it lasts…

Bottom line

United Airlines has resumed its route between Los Angeles and Shanghai, after a suspension of over four years. With this, United is the only US airline to fly from Southern California to Mainland China. This is a route that all of the “big three” US carriers operated pre-pandemic, so it’s nice to see at least one airline resume this route.

What do you make of United resuming its Los Angeles to Shanghai service?