United Airlines (Chicago) has announced plans to launch nonstop service between its San Francisco hub and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, with once-weekly flights beginning on March 2, 2013, and daily service beginning April 9, 2013. The new flights will operate with Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

“South Florida is the largest region in the country not currently served by United from San Francisco,” said Jim Ferea, United’s managing director of domestic planning. “We’re pleased to link these two areas that are important to both business and leisure travelers.”

The daily flights will depart from San Francisco at 8:30 a.m. and arrive in Fort Lauderdale at 5:05 p.m. The return flights will depart Fort Lauderdale at 5:55 p.m. and arrive in San Francisco at 9:15 p.m.

Between March 2, 2013, and April 7, 2013, the airline will offer weekly Saturday-only flights on the route. The schedule varies slightly for the weekly service.

Since February 2011, United has added nonstop service between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Chicago-O’Hare, Denver and Washington-Dulles. The airline also offers nonstop flights between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and hubs in Cleveland, Houston and New York.

United will compete against JetBlue Airways and Virgin America on the route. United previously had a hub at Miami (the former Pan Am hub) and previously offered Miami-San Francisco service.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-824 N26210 (msn 28770) in the Star Alliance scheme arrives at the Washington (Dulles) hub.

United Airlines: