United Airlines has become the first US carrier to operate non-stop services to Taipei with a daily flight from San Francisco to the island.
Viewed as a renegade republic by neighbouring China, Taiwan has long been at the forefront of powering technological development and a route from the Bay Area and Silicon Valley ties both communities together.
UA871 departs San Francisco International Airport at 12:41 local, arriving in Taipei Taoyuan at 17:10 the following day. Given the complexity of the date line, passengers leaving on UA872 from Taipei at 12:10, will actually arrive earlier in the morning of the same day at 08:24.
The US carrier will operate the route using Boeing 777 aircraft, configured with ten First, 45 Business and 198 Economy seats, of which 84 will be United”s Economy Plus seats, giving up to five inches more seat pitch. Cargo capability will be around 20t.
”We are pleased to offer our customers direct access to an important economic and cultural centre, by establishing a non-stop link between the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and Taipei,” said United senior vice president planning, Kevin Knight.”
United offers a range of Pacific services, including Washington Dulles to Tokyo Narita, while from San Francisco, the airline became the first in 30 years to fly to Vietnam.