​​​​​​I hear ya, but Russia isn't going to reopen its airspace anytime soon. Until the Ukraine War is over, I doubt there will be any international discussion about it. It seems like AY has moved on and will funnel traffic to DOH? I think UA will have to figure something else out.

W​as it even profitable ​​​​​​pre-COVID?

Once upon a time it was double daily on 747-400s. Of course, that was before the merger. HKG demand was in decline BEFORE the pandemic due to the HKG protests against the extradition law. It is basically another PRC city now with one country two systems pretty much dead. But where has that demand gone? SIN has been the prime beneficiary.

I meant ORD-HKG.

On the plus side, the protests meant more elbow room in places that were always crowded. I honestly think HK will come back simply because the PRC will not allow the city to become irrelevant. Chinese economic power continues to increase despite the negative news headlines.

United is going back to 2x daily SFO-HKG with UA869 resuming on 3/25/23 and HKG-SFO with UA878 resuming on on 3/26/23.

Confirmed?

You can book on united.com right now.

No, they can't. There are all kinds of places east of the Rockies, particularly east of the Mississippi, that have flights to ORD but not SFO.

Thanks for the correction! Wouldn't it be easier for UA to add connecting flights to SFO? Otherwise, how will you solve the Russian airspace problem?

I do see discount fare buckets (L/R/P) available for SFO-HKG on united.com, which suggest it is a real start, vs the placeholder flights for SFO-PEK where only full fare (B/O/J) is for sale.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/28/us-w...or-covid-.html

Looks like Hong Kong is included in this. Could put a damper on demand.

You would solve the Russian airspace problem by not overflying Russia. EWR-ADK-HKG is 8574 statute miles, only about 500 miles longer than the nonstop. ORD-ADK-KHG is 8143 statute miles, only about 350 more than the nonstop. Both of those routes avoid Kamchatka as well as North Korea.

Or, if people are going to connect anyway, you connect at NRT, which is a much, much better experience than connecting at SFO and is hundreds of miles shorter to boot.

Adding a bunch of transcontinental flights to SFO to connect the few travelers who happen to want to go to HKG, just so that you can support 2x SFO-HKG, is a solution in search of a problem.

Has ADK ever been used as a refueling stop?

Didn't UA say something about ​​​​​​their desire to go back to 2x daily from SFO last year or even in 2020 given their investments in HKG?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't take off and landing the most fuel-intensive and also the most dangerous in terms of safety?

Doh! Can I take a RAT with those online services similar to when we needed them to enter the US earlier this year? I think it was only $20 and they only checked at the airport. Nobody from CBP even checked when I landed at SFO.

Yes, I believe ORD-HKG was double daily 747-400, with one of those flights continuing onto SIN. (I know, lot of seats.)

Going back to double daily in just a few weeks after resuming service after three years? I won’t hold my breath on that.

I'm not suggesting using ADK as a refueling stop (they'd use ANC). I'm saying they don't need a refueling stop if they route over ADK.

My bad. The way you state it led me to think of using ADK as some sort of refueling stop/layover.