Must be no $$$ in the Pacific either.

http://boosting-united-airlines-at-s...cisco-hub.html
How Boeing 787-9s Are Boosting United Airlines at San Francisco Hub.

United Airlines (UAL) says the continuing rapid international growth at its San Francisco hub is being fueled by its newest airplane, the Boeing (BA) 787-9.

Since March, United has added non-stop flights from San Francisco to Hangzhou and Xian in China as well as to Tel Aviv, Singapore, and Auckland, New Zealand. Of the five, four are flown with the 787-9, while Xian is flown with a 787-8, a smaller airplane with a shorter range.

Boeing introduced the 787-8 in 2011. United put 219 seats on the aircraft, which has a range of 8,458 statute miles. Boeing delivered United's first 787-9 in 2014. The carrier put 252 seats on its 787-9, which has a range of 8,786 miles. United has 18 787-9s and 12 787-8s

"The poster child for the 787-9 is Singapore," said Brian Znotins, United vice president of network. "No other airplane in our fleet can fly that route."

The 8,446-mile flight, which began in June, is the longest 787 route in the world, as well as the longest scheduled flight by any U.S. carrier. Previously a bigger airplane was required to carry sufficient fuel, but a bigger airplane would have been too big for the route.

"As a network planner, my goal is to give business travelers back time in their lives," Znotins said. "I believe business travelers want to be home for their kids' soccer practice, and if I can get you to and from Singapore non-stop [instead of with a connection], I just gave back two or three hours."

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