United Airlines Begins Nonstop Flights to San Francisco

United Airlines recently announced that it will begin nonstop flights between San Francisco and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Highfill. This is good news for suppliers, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executives and Bay Area lovers alike. Direct flights mean less time in the air and more time for doing business.

The once-a-day flights, departing from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in the morning and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in the early afternoon, are a welcome addition to XNA’s current roster of 13 direct flights to other business hubs across the United States. While direct flights to Los Angeles were reinstated in 2013 after a long hiatus, travelers to northern California had to make connections elsewhere.

United has expressed enthusiasm for the new service.

“United is pleased to offer daily, nonstop service between Northwest Arkansas and our hub in San Francisco, the country’s premier Pacific gateway,” said Frank Spillman, director of regional sales for United Airlines. “Our arrival time is ideal for mid-morning business meetings in San Francisco and conveniently timed for United’s connecting service to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and beyond.”

Direct flights between XNA and SFO begin on Oct. 25. Daily flights will depart Northwest Arkansas at 7:45 a.m. (Central time) and arrive in San Francisco at 9:47 a.m. (Pacific time). San Francisco departures are at 1:30 p.m, arriving at XNA at 7:17 p.m. United is offering these flights in partnership with SkyWest.

The impact on commuters will be significant. Currently, flights between SFO and XNA require one or two stops, and the resulting trip times can exceed nine hours. The direct flights will run about four hours, eliminating the risk of missed connections and reducing the fatigue caused by long, complicated trips.

In addition to providing convenience to frequent travelers, the decision to offer nonstop flights also reflects Northwest Arkansas’ rapidly changing business culture.

Many major Walmart suppliers are based in San Francisco, including Levi Strauss & Co., Clorox and Del Monte. The new route will fast-track executives and company representatives between their respective home offices and Walmart headquarters in Bentonville.

Walmart’s commitment to e-commerce and omnichannel growth requires efficient transportation options between Bentonville and Silicon Valley.

Walmart has also recently made major commitments to its Chinese operations.

By offering a nonstop flight to the Bay Area, XNA joins just ten other mid-American airports, such as Chicago’s O’Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth International, that also offer direct flights to San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose.

In a statement, Mike Malone, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council, urged businesses and residents to support the new route.

“Certainly, it’s exciting when an airline announces that it’s starting new flights,” he said. “But our community must show what a wise business decision the airline made in deciding to start the service. If business and leisure travelers take advantage of this new offering, we’re certain San Francisco will be a solid, long-term destination from XNA.”

In addition to the news of the direct San Francisco flights, XNA director Kelly Johnson also announced the introduction of larger planes for the airport’s Chicago and Denver routes. This means that travelers will have access to two-class cabins, including first-class amenities and service. The two-class routes will be announced later this year.