On 14 May United Airlines welcomed local business and community leaders to Gate 85 at San Francisco International Airport to celebrate the launch of the airline’s new daily service between San Francisco and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Guests included representatives from the California Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Travel Association and the Bay Area Council.
With the launch of the new service, United will become the first airline to connect the Bay Area with Washington’s downtown close-in airport.
San Francisco Mayor’s Office of International Trade and Commerce Director Mark Chandler and United Managing Director of Western Region Sales Anthony Toth addressed the customers and other dignitaries, including special guests George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. United decorated the gate in red, white and blue bunting and provided entertainment and traditional American food, including baked apple pie and cherry cobbler.
“We are delighted today to celebrate our expanded service between San Francisco and Washington,” said Anthony Toth. “We provide travelers in San Francisco with more flights to more destinations than any other airline in the world.”
“San Francisco welcomes United’s new nonstop service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “United, as one of the Bay Area’s largest employers and the largest airline to operate out of SFO, plays a significant role in developing economic opportunities and creating jobs for our city.”
“United’s new nonstop service to our nation’s capital will benefit California’s economic recovery and greatly improve access to our federal officials,” said Allan Zaremberg, president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Immediately following the celebration, customers boarded the inaugural flight to Washington Reagan, operated using a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
United operates more than 300 flights from San Francisco and serves more than 60 airports across the United States, including those in top business travel markets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston. From San Francisco International Airport, United’s principal trans-Pacific gateway, the airline offers more than 30 daily nonstop flights to nearly 20 international destinations, including markets in Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America.