United Adds 20 Portland-California Flights

United Airlines is expanding its nonstop service between Portland, Maine, and California for summer 2027, with 20 added roundtrip flights.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Air Travel

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United Airlines added 20 roundtrip flights between Portland, Maine, and California for summer 2027, a 65 percent increase over the previous year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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United Airlines added 20 roundtrip transcontinental flights between Portland International Jetport and California for summer 2027, a 65% increase over summer 2026 options. Breeze Airways also announced nonstop service from Portland to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, starting May 2027.

Why it matters

The expansion gives Portland travelers nonstop access to all seven of United's domestic hubs and builds on the first direct commercial flights between Maine and California launched in 2026. The added capacity increases options for passengers traveling between the Northeast and the West Coast.

The new service uses Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft carrying up to 178 passengers, and the 2026 schedule initially ran 13 weeks before five additional weeks were added for San Francisco due to demand. Pricing and fare details for the 2027 flights were not included in the announcement.

The players

United Airlines

United Airlines is a major U.S. carrier and one of the largest airlines in the world, operating a network of domestic and international hubs.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways is a low-cost U.S. airline that focuses on point-to-point leisure routes between secondary and underserved cities.

The details

The Jetport announced the added flights on Monday, with Saturday San Francisco flights resuming May 8, 2027, and Wednesday San Francisco flights added June 23, 2027. Portland's first United nonstop flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco were announced in January 2026, and the new schedule expands on that service.

Timeline

  1. January 2026: United first announced Portland to California nonstop flights.

  2. June 27, 2026: First Saturday flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco begin.

  3. May 8, 2027: Saturday San Francisco flights resume.

  4. June 23, 2027: Wednesday San Francisco flights added.

  5. June 26, 2027: Saturday Los Angeles flights resume.

Travel Outlook

The expansion extends the first direct Maine-California commercial service launched by United in 2026, after the initial 13-week schedule grew by five weeks on San Francisco demand. The added capacity signals that the route has moved from a trial into a sustained seasonal market for Portland travelers.

Travelers from Portland now have more nonstop options to California, which may give them more schedule flexibility for summer 2027. Booking early may help secure seats on the expanded Saturday and Wednesday departures.

The takeaway

Portland travelers gain more nonstop choices to California and to every one of United's domestic hubs. Checking the new Saturday and Wednesday schedules early can help match flights to travel plans.

What happens next

Saturday San Francisco flights resume May 8, 2027, Wednesday San Francisco flights are added June 23, 2027, and Saturday Los Angeles flights resume June 26, 2027.

Further reading

For more on how new routes like these affect fares and schedules, explore Air Travel coverage.

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Do you think air travel options from your area are getting better?