Few routes have been as anticipated and delayed as much as United Airlines from San Francisco to Bengaluru. It has been scheduled and bookable on multiple occasions since it was first announced 14 months ago. Still, it hasn't taken off yet, seemingly because of the aftereffects of the pandemic; ultra-long-haul is very hard to make work at the best of times. In the latest schedule filing, United has scheduled it to begin in October 2023 – but much may happen in the next year. Will it ever take off?

United: San Francisco to Bengaluru

The Star Alliance carrier has removed planned San Francisco-Bengaluru flights from next summer's schedule, as shown in the image below. After multiple delays, it was to operate from March 24th, but now won't.

As of November 22nd, the plan is for United's first Bengaluru-bound flight to be on October 28th, the day before the carrier switches to winter 2023 schedules. It still has a 1x daily frequency by the 257-seat Boeing 787-9. These have 48 Polaris business class lie-flat seats with direct aisle access for all passengers. Following this are 21 Premium Plus seats (premium economy), 39 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats, and 149 standard economy seats.

It is scheduled as follows, with all times local:

  • San Francisco to Bengaluru: UA152, 18:55-00:50 (+2); first flight October 28th
  • Bengaluru to San Francisco: UA153, 03:55-08:30; first flight October 30th

Click here for San Francisco-Bengaluru flights!

United Airlines San Francisco-Bengaluru delay
Image: via Cirium.

It'll compete against Air India

Air India launched Bengaluru-San Francisco in January 2021, when the route was part of the India-US air bubble. It'll return in less than a month on December 2nd, when it'll be one of nine US routes for India's flag carrier. There will be 3x weekly flights using 238-seat 777-200LRs, with eight seats in first, 35 in business, and 195 in economy.

Air India Boeing 777-200LR
Photo: Kentaro Iemoto via Wikimedia Commons

The San Francisco-Bengaluru market

In 2019, the last year unaffected by coronavirus, San Francisco-Bengaluru had 139,000 roundtrip passengers, up by 13% over the year before. Spread equally over an entire year, there were 190 passengers daily each way. It was developing strongly pre-pandemic, and Air India and United hope it recovers.

While the number of passengers was significant in itself, so too was the fare: an average of $721 one-way, excluding taxes and any fuel surcharge. In contrast, the average fare for San Francisco-Delhi, a much larger market, was 40% lower at $438. Bengaluru is a much more premium market, partly because of passengers traveling between the two tech hubs. No wonder United remains interested, even if it is delayed again.

United Airlines Boeing 787
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Most people flew with Emirates

Booking data reveals that, in 2019, most San Francisco-Bengaluru passengers traveled via Dubai with Emirates. Then via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific, Singapore with Singapore Airlines, Frankfurt with Lufthansa, and Delhi with Air India.

Flying via Dubai rather than nonstop adds 1,077 miles (1,733km) each way. United will be betting on attracting the higher-yielding premium passengers wishing to save time and hassle in exchange for a higher fare.

What do you make of it all? Let us know in the comments.