United Air Lines has confirmed that its first 787-9 Dreamliner destination will be Melbourne, Australia. Effective 26 October 2014, the carrier will operated non-stop six times weekly from Los Angeles LAX to Melbourne Tullamarine. The aircraft will be configured with 48 BusinessFirst, 63 EconomyPlus and 141 Economy Seats. It believed these flights will be operated by former LAX based Continental Air Lines cabin crew.

The carrier  operates Los Angeles – Sydney – Melbourne service, as well as daily non-stop San Francisco – Sydney services. Presently these services are operated by 747-400s, however this will change to the 777-200ER from late March 2014.  Once the new 787-9 flights commence, United is expect to drop the SYD-MEL tag. It is not known at this time whether the carrier also maintain daily LAX-SYD services.

United has in the past briefly operated LAX – Melbourne services with 747-400s.

The new services remain subject to regulatory approvals.