Why A Rumored United Airlines' Ultra-Long-Haul Flight Could Become Among The Most Profitable Routes In Aviation

A rumored United Airlines ultra-long-haul route could become among aviation’s most profitable services if planned flights between San Francisco and India proceed. The report says United is rumored to launch new nonstop operations from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Bengaluru Airport (BLR). The estimated great-circle distances are 7,706 miles (12,401 km) for SFO–DEL and 8,701 miles (14,003 km) for SFO–BLR. For context, Qantas’ Perth–London Heathrow flight is only 300 miles (483 km) longer than the Perth–Heathrow leg. The article notes United already operates EWR–DEL (7,324 miles/11,786 km) since 2005, with a brief pandemic suspension, and had an ORD–DEL service from 2020 to 2023. It also highlights that Air India serves SFO–Delhi daily, currently via a Kolkata stopover due to airspace closures.