United will soon offer nonstop service from Houston to Sydney

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It's about to get a lot easier for Houstonians to have fun down under.

In January, United Airlines will launch nonstop service from Houston to Sydney, a first for the city, according to the Houston Business Journal.

The flight will depart Houston at 8 p.m. central time and land in Sydney at 6:30 a.m. local time two days later. On the way back, passengers leave Sydney at 11:50 a.m. local time and arrive in Houston at 10:35 a.m. the same day.

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will fly the Houston-Sydney route. It carries 252 passengers: 48 in business, 63 in economy plus and 141 in coach.

"For nearly 50 years, the city of Houston and United Airlines have built a wonderful relationship and we are thrilled that United continues investing in its operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and throughout our community," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said of the new route.

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