United Inaugural Houston-Sydney Service

Grahame Hutchison · #1 21st January 2018, 10:19 AM

United Airlines operated their inaugural Houston-Sydney service this morning, with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N35953 touching down at Sydney Airport on Runway 34L at 0625L. The inaugural return service to Houston departed on Runway 34L at 1215L, flown by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N38955 (change of aircraft), which operated the San Francisco-Sydney service earlier this morning. This is the fourth longest air route in the world, and the longest by an American carrier. United now operates Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now Houston direct to Sydney.

Full Story & Images

Robbie J · #2 21st January 2018, 12:08 PM

Was there a media contingent (usually situated directly beside the tarmac) to report on this?

The water cannon from the firetruck (in your picture) is often done for a media 'photo opportunity' so I thought maybe some media had indeed assembled for the occasion.

I flew London to Sydney (via Houston, Los Angeles and Honolulu - nowhere near a 'direct flight') in early 1991 with Continental. Houston was their home base, so we passed through there. Not much choice about that.

Shortly afterwards, Continental stopped flying here. Probably not a busy enough route, and stacks of competition, especially LA > Syd.

Nigel C · #3 21st January 2018, 06:14 PM

Hi Robbie,

Photos from the runway's edge and tarmac shots of the water salute can be found on Sydney Airport's facebook page.

Cheers

Greg Hyde · #4 21st January 2018, 07:53 PM

There was good press coverage on the Ch7 news on Saturday night.

Can't remember any shots of the actual aircraft or water cannons

Robbie J · #5 21st January 2018, 09:53 PM

Thanks, Nigel and Greg!