United kicks off new flights to SF and Chicago

United Airlines on Thursday kicked off its first new flights to San Francisco and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The 1:30 p.m. departure for San Francisco featured a water cannon salute in which airport fire trucks sent arching streams of water over the departing plane as it taxied from the gate.

Passengers on the three new flights were treated to light refreshments at the gates prior to leaving.

The daily flights to San Francisco depart at 6 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Their counterpart arrivals leave San Francisco at 10:58 a.m. and 7:10 p.m.

The daily United flights to Chicago depart Spokane at 11:25 p.m. through Sept. 7. Then, the dparture will change to 7:35 a.m.

The Chicago return flight leaves at 7:55 p.m., arriving in Spokane at 9:45 p.m.

Spokane airport spokesman Todd Woodard said in a news release that “Chicago and San Francisco are two of nation’s most important air transportation hubs for domestic and international travel and the ability to access Spokane on a one-stop basis from many international and domestic cities will further contribute to the economic vitality of Spokane.”