United plans San Francisco-Chengdu from June 2014

United has applied to operate direct flights from San Francisco to Chengdu in China from June next year.

The airline confirmed it has applied to the US Department of Transportation to start the three-times weekly route. It plans to place a B787 Dreamliner aircraft on the route.

This would bring United’s Asia-Pacific destinations from San Francisco to nine.  

Chengdu is the fourth biggest city in China, and is the capital of the Sichuan province in southwest China. It has a population of 14 million people and is home to a number of fast expanding companies and industries. However, it is best known as the home of the giant panda, which are the city’s biggest tourist attractions.