NORTH CHARLESTON — Charleston is getting a new nonstop connection to the West Coast.
United Airlines will begin flying between Charleston International Airport and San Francisco International Airport on March 28, 2027, giving Lowcountry travelers a new gateway to California — and connections beyond.
The route will give Charleston-area travelers a direct link to United’s San Francisco hub, with connections to destinations across the West Coast, Asia and the Pacific. Over 30 international carriers serve SFO and connect nonstop with more than 75 U.S. cities on 12 domestic airlines.
The route will operate on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday weekly on Boeing 737-800 MAX 8 aircraft. It will run seasonally from March through November.
Elliott Summey, the airport’s president and CEO, said nonstop service to San Francisco expands Charleston International Airport’s network and builds on United’s longstanding presence in the Charleston market.
He said that the need for convenient access to major markets is more in demand than ever. Charleston now has more than 50 nonstop routes across the country.
“This new transcontinental route strengthens our connection to the West Coast, supports our business and tourism communities, and gives travelers more choices when flying from their hometown airport,” Summey said.
Mark Weithofer, managing director of Domestic Network Planning at United, said the flight marks a significant expansion for the legacy carrier at CHS.
Weithofer said the airline’s capacity at the airport is up 50 percent this month compared with the same time last year — which is a result of a broader shift from smaller regional jets to larger mainline aircraft over the last several years, including Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s. The bigger planes add capacity and more premium seating, without having to increase the route frequency.
San Francisco will soon be only a nonstop flight away from Charleston through United Airlines.
San Francisco Travel Association/ Provided
“It’s an attractive option for people who live in the Bay Area that want to visit Charleston, but also for people in Charleston who are going to places like Australia, Hong Kong and Hawaii,” Weithofer said. “San Francisco is the largest gateway of any airline to connect the U.S. to all the points in the Asia Pacific.”
San Francisco draws about 24.2 million visitors a year, according to data from the San Francisco Travel Association. The city is known for its iconic skyline, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is home to more than 200 historic landmark buildings and 14,000 Victorian homes. It also boasts the country’s only moving national landmark — San Francisco’s cable cars.
Currently, the only nonstop flight to California is a seasonal Breeze Airways flight to Los Angeles International Airport.
United studied Charleston’s seasonal travel patterns and found demand peaks in the spring and fall, particularly April and October, rather than during the traditional summer or winter travel seasons. He said Charleston is also unique in how many visitors fly in mid-week for a long weekend. Weithofer said the airline tailored the new schedule to those patterns.
Charleston International Airport celebrates the announcement of a 2027 San Francisco flight.
“Charleston is a fantastic destination, and it’s a destination our customers repeatedly visit for the culture, food and historic attractions,” Weithofer said.
Helen Hill, chair of the Charleston Regional Aviation Authority and president and CEO of Explore Charleston, called the route “a strong vote of confidence in the Charleston region’s growing economy and its appeal as a world-class destination.”
Weithofer said the flight “brings the world a little closer to Charleston.”
“United is committed to the Charleston market,” Weithofer said. “The San Francisco flight is the next chapter in a long story as we’ve been building our presence here.”
United offers daily flights from Charleston to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Dulles International Airport.
United has not announced a specific starting fare for the route.