PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland International Jetport says United Airlines will begin offering the airport’s first-ever nonstop service to California this summer, adding Saturday-only seasonal flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) starting June 27, 2026.
The Jetport’s announcement, posted Jan. 15, marks a milestone for Maine’s busiest commercial airport: a true transcontinental nonstop link between Portland and the West Coast during peak tourism season. Jetport Director Paul Bradbury called it a “first” for the airport and credited United’s continued investment in the Portland market.
Jetport officials stressed that the Jan. 15 date was the announcement date, not the start of service. Tickets were expected to go on sale Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, and the Saturday flights will be operated on a Boeing 737, according to the airport.
The new California service expands United’s Portland lineup across its domestic hub network. The Jetport said United’s two West Coast hubs will give Portland nonstop access to all seven of the carrier’s U.S. hubs, alongside existing summer service that includes daily flights to Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Newark and Washington Dulles, plus Saturday service to Houston Bush Intercontinental.
Airport leaders framed the move as a direct response to demand. Assistant Airport Director Zach Sundquist said Los Angeles and San Francisco have long been among Portland’s “top unserved markets,” and the added flights should make it easier for travelers to reach Maine and for Mainers to reach the West Coast, during the busiest stretch of the year.
The Jetport, owned and operated by the City of Portland as part of the city’s transportation department, has seen passenger volumes surge over the past decade, fueled by expanding airline service and strong tourism traffic. Jetport statistics show the airport handled 2,438,054 total passengers in 2024, a recent high-water mark for the state’s largest airport.
The airport has also promoted its customer experience credentials in recent years, citing repeated recognition through Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program, including “Best Airport in North America” honors in the 2–5 million passenger category.
