United Plans to Add Tokyo Haneda to Network, with Service from SFO

United Airlines plans to add Tokyo Haneda Airport to its route network by offering daily non-stop service from San Francisco from October 26, should it receive the requisite government approval.

Assuming United Airlines does receive the required approvals, Tokyo Haneda Airport would be the 10th transpacific destination served by United non-stop from San Francisco, and the third new Asia-Pacific destination – along with Taipei and Chengdu – for United this year.

This United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER was delivered to United in August 2001, long before its merger with Continental Airlines. The aircraft is photographed at Singapore Changi International Airport

“By providing nonstop service from our San Francisco hub to both Tokyo airports, we will maximize choice and convenience for customers traveling from across the Americas to Tokyo, and to points beyond on our joint-venture partner ANA,” says Jim Compton, United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer.

United Airlines’ schedule for the San Francisco-Tokyo Haneda route calls for flight UA875 to depart San Francisco International Airport (IATA code SFO) at 6:35 p.m. daily from October 26, arriving at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) at 10:05 p.m. the following day, local time, after crossing the International Date Line.

In the other direction, flight UA876 is timed to leave HND daily at 12:05 a.m. from October 27, landing at SFO at 5:15 p.m. the previous day, local time, again after crossing the International Date Line.

Flying times will be approximately 11 hours 30 minutes westbound and 9 hours 10 minutes eastbound, according to United Airlines.

A Continental Airlines-legacy Boeing 777-200ER of United Airlines decelerates upon landing at Frankfurt Airport, using its thrust reversers

From November 2, 2014, San Francisco arrival and departure times would be one hour earlier due to the end of daylight saving time.

The flight schedules enable customers to use convenient public transportation between Haneda Airport and central Tokyo and Yokohama, according to United.

United passengers traveling on the new Haneda flights would be able to make one-stop connections at the San Francisco hub to and from 28 cities throughout North America and beyond.

In addition, the new service would provide connections at Tokyo Haneda Airport on the extensive network of United’s joint-venture partner ANA to other international destinations, including Bangkok and Singapore.

On July 31, 2013, ANA ordered three additional Boeing 777-300ERs. The order, which Boeing valued at approximately $945 million at current list prices, would increase the total number of 777s in ANA’s fleet to 57 (22 of them 777-300ERs) once the three aircraft were delivered

Upon the introduction of the San Francisco-Tokyo Haneda service, United will operate once-daily service between San Francisco and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, rather than the twice-daily service currently offered. The airline also operates daily service to Tokyo Narita from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington.

United would operate its planned San Francisco-Tokyo Haneda service with Boeing 777-200ER jets. Each has 269 seats – eight in United Global First, 40 in United BusinessFirst and 221 in United Economy, including 104 United Economy Plus extra-legroom seats.

Both the Global First and BusinessFirst cabins feature flat-bed seats, along with a wide range of premium-cabin services and amenities.  All seats on the 777 feature a personal on-demand entertainment system.