United to launch first nonstop US-Okinawa flight in more than 50 years

A major U.S. airline will launch the first nonstop passenger service between Okinawa and the continental United States in more than half a century next spring, offering the island’s large U.S. military community a direct route to San Francisco.

United Airlines will begin service between Naha and San Francisco International airports on March 27 as part of what the airline described as “the largest international network expansion in company history,” according to an Aug. 25 announcement.

A 276-seat Boeing 777-200ER will fly the route three times a week, the airline said.

The service will be the first nonstop flight between Okinawa and the continental U.S. since the island reverted to Japanese control in 1972, Sho Watanabe, chief of the General Affairs and Planning Section at the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau, said by phone Friday.

For U.S. service members and their families, the route could eliminate a connection through Japan’s main island or another Asian airport when traveling to or from the States.

The announcement came after years of discussion about the possibility of direct service, said Brian Crawford, owner of Okinawa RV, a campervan rental company in Yomitan.

“On my initial reaction, honestly it was disbelief followed by real excitement,” he said by email Thursday. “People have talked about a direct flight to the mainland US for years without much hope of it happening, so seeing United actually put a date on it felt like a turning point for Okinawa.”

Crawford, whose customers include American tourists and members of Okinawa’s military community, said the route could simplify permanent change-of-station moves, emergency and vacation leave and visit by relatives.

“Cutting out a connection can save the better part of a day in each direction, and that is often the difference between a trip being worth it and not,” he said.

A one-way ticket departing San Francisco for Naha on March 27 was listed Monday at about $1,350 for the 13-hour, 15-minute flight on United’s website.

Comparable United itineraries connecting through Tokyo’s Haneda airport started at approximately $1,700 and added about two hours to the trip.

San Francisco is one of United’s seven U.S. hubs and a major gateway for its Pacific network, with nonstop service to several destinations in Japan.

A United senior vice president, Patrick Quayle, said the expansion is intended to provide travelers with more international destinations.

“We aim to have a destination on our route map for every traveler, at every stage of their lives,” he said in the airline’s announcement.

Okinawa tourism officials also expect the route to make the island more accessible to travelers beyond California.

“We expect the direct flight will improve convenience for travelers and could also help attract visitors from other parts of North America,” Watanabe said.

Approximately 487,000 Americans visited Okinawa during Japanese fiscal year 2025, according to the prefectural government.

“We anticipate positive ripple effects across various sectors, including the economy, in addition to tourism,” Watanabe said. “We see great potential.”