One of the largest airline fleets in the world and a Star Alliance founding member. United's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 767 widebody belly capacity moves Chinese cargo to the United States reliably, a strong option for China-US air freight.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for air cargo from China to the United States.
United Airlines (IATA two-letter code UA, ICAO three-letter code UAL) is headquartered in Chicago and operates a mainline fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft. For shippers in China the core value is nonstop China-US belly capacity: widebodies fly daily from Shanghai and Beijing to San Francisco and Los Angeles, distributing Chinese cargo across the United States through west coast hubs.
United is one of the three largest US airline groups and a founding member of Star Alliance (1997). It has seven US hubs at Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington Dulles (IAD), plus the Guam (GUM) Pacific hub, and its network covers six continents, the most extensive of the North American carriers.
United Cargo relies mainly on passenger belly capacity and carried about 347 million pounds (roughly 157,000 tonnes) in the second quarter of 2026, including more than 9 million pounds of pharmaceuticals. China-US routes use Boeing 777 and 787 widebodies, a mature belly channel for Chinese exports of e-commerce goods, electronics, machinery and perishables flying direct to the United States.
| Airline | United Airlines |
| Cargo department | United Cargo |
| Country | United States |
| Global headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Founded | 1926 (centenary in 2026) |
| Cargo operations | Scheduled cargo operations began December 1940 |
| IATA two-letter code | UA |
| ICAO three-letter code | UAL |
| Air waybill prefix | 016(AWB 016-XXXXXXXX) |
| Airline alliance | Star Alliance (founding member) |
| Official cargo website | www.unitedcargo.com |
| Cargo tracking | www.unitedcargo.com, Track on the home page, enter the air waybill number |
| Main hubs | Chicago ORD, San Francisco SFO, Los Angeles LAX, Newark EWR, Denver DEN, Houston IAH, Washington IAD, Guam GUM |
China-US routes mainly use Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200ER widebodies with large, high-capacity belly holds that suit e-commerce goods, electronics, machinery and perishables.
Nonstop flights from Shanghai and Beijing to the United States mostly run daily, giving steady departure frequency, flexible space and short waiting times, which suits time-critical cross-border e-commerce and urgent restocking.
With a global network of more than 1,000 aircraft and the Star Alliance partner network, cargo connects at San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and other hubs to major cities worldwide.
Cargo terminals at San Francisco, Los Angeles and other hubs have temperature-controlled rooms, pharmaceutical cold-chain and high-value areas; the San Francisco terminal, for example, covers about 140,000 square feet and runs 24 hours.
The essentials: United carries cargo on widebodies that depart on schedule every day, with a leading fleet, a dense hub network and mature specialist products, making it a competitive provider of belly capacity in the international air freight market. A shipper only needs a forwarder to secure space, and the cargo moves on United flights.
| Aircraft type | Fleet count | Main role / cargo characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-300ER | 22 aircraft | One of the main China-US types, an ultra-long-range widebody with ample belly capacity for high-value cargo such as e-commerce goods and electronics |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 74 aircraft | Long-haul widebody used on trans-Pacific and transatlantic routes, a mature type with steady capacity |
| Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | 48 aircraft | New-generation long-haul widebody with high fuel efficiency and advanced passenger and cargo environments, suited to sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals and perishables |
| Boeing 787-10 / 787-8 | 21 aircraft / 12 aircraft | Two sizes in the 787 family that together form the long-haul widebody capacity matrix |
| Boeing 767-300ER / 400ER | 37 aircraft / 16 aircraft | Widebodies on transatlantic and US domestic trunk routes with mature belly cargo capability, connecting to US inland transfers |
The cargo hold sits below the passenger cabin and is loaded with standard ULDs, both pallets and containers. On a China-US Boeing 777-300ER flight the belly takes tens of tonnes, more than enough for most general cargo, e-commerce goods, perishables and electronics.
United retired its last Boeing 747 freighters in 2020 and has since run cargo solely through passenger belly capacity. It previously operated McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F and Boeing 747 freighters, so its cargo experience runs deep; today the model of frequent flights, steady space and a large network gives shippers more flexible capacity and more stable shipping plans.
Note: aircraft counts are published mainline fleet figures as of 2026 and differ slightly between sources; the type actually flown may be substituted, and the aircraft of the day applies.
Source: published airline fleet counts as of 2026, totalling about 997 to 1,100 aircraft depending on the count. Large numbers of 737 MAX, A321neo, A321XLR and Airbus A350-900 aircraft are on order, and the fleet will keep growing in the coming years.
| Flagship type | Boeing 777-300ER / 787-10 Dreamliner |
| Long-haul widebody | Boeing 777-200ER, 787-8/9/10 |
| Classic widebody | Boeing 767-300ER / 767-400ER |
| Main narrowbody | Airbus A319/A320/A321neo, Boeing 737-800/900ER/MAX |
| Freighter | None (all 747 freighters retired in 2020; cargo carried in passenger belly holds) |
| On order | 737 MAX, A321neo/A321XLR, Airbus A350-900 and others, several hundred aircraft in total |
Flight numberUA858, operated by Boeing 777-300ER
Daily service, departs 12:10, operated year round.
Arrival: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), United's west coast hub
Flight numberUA199, operated by Boeing 777/787
Daily service, departs 20:15.
Arrival: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), one of the largest cargo gateways on the US west coast
Flight numberUA889flown by Boeing 777
Daily service, departs 17:25.
Arrival: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the classic nonstop route from Beijing to the United States
Flight numberUA771flown by Boeing 777
Three flights weekly(Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday); times per the airline's website.
Arrival: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
| Route (departing China) | Flight number | Schedule | Departure time | Aircraft operated | Arrival airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG to San Francisco SFO | UA858 | Daily service | 12:10 | Boeing 777-300ER | San Francisco International Airport |
| Shanghai Pudong PVG to Los Angeles LAX | UA199 | Daily service | 20:15 | Boeing 777/787 | Los Angeles International Airport |
| Beijing Capital PEK to San Francisco SFO | UA889 | Daily service | 17:25 | Boeing 777 | San Francisco International Airport |
| Beijing Capital PEK to Los Angeles LAX | UA771 | Three flights weekly (Tue/Thu/Sat)As stated on the official website | As stated on the official website | Boeing 777 | Los Angeles International Airport |
Note: these are published schedules; actual departure and arrival times may change with the season and operations, so check the United website or our latest confirmation.
United operates 24 nonstop China-US flights a week from Shanghai and Beijing to the two west coast gateways, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
United's own flights currently serve only Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital. Flights under a United flight number from Chengdu (CTU), Hangzhou and other cities are code-shares with Air China and other carriers (United flight number, Chinese carrier operating) and count as domestic connections. For cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu or Chongqing, we can consolidate it domestically to Shanghai Pudong or Beijing Capital and connect to United, giving one service from local handover to airport departure.
Cargo from China clears quickly at these airports or moves on United domestic flights the same or next day to major US cities including Chicago, New York, Houston, Denver and Washington.
After arrival in the United States, cargo can continue on United's own network or with Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA and Singapore Airlines to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other countries in the Americas, or via the San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago hubs to Europe and Asia-Pacific. For clients who want to fly from China to the United States and then distribute across North America, the network works well.
Note: we can arrange delivery anywhere in the United States, including airport-to-door, customs clearance and truck transfer.
Up to 24 nonstop China-US flights a week, with daily service from both Shanghai and Beijing to San Francisco. Passenger flight schedules are stable and rarely cancelled, so cargo can move when needed, which particularly helps e-commerce restocking and urgent orders.
With a mainline fleet above 1,000 aircraft, flexible deployment and ample spare aircraft, United is one of the largest airlines in the world by fleet size, which means more dependable capacity and more flexible space arrangements.
China-US routes use Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200ER widebodies with ample belly space, tens of tonnes per flight, taking general cargo, e-commerce goods, perishables and electronics.
United has the most extensive route network in North America, with seven US mainland hubs plus the Guam Pacific hub, all on one air waybill from China to the United States and on across North America and the world.
TempControl for pharmaceuticals and perishables, LifeGuard for urgent medical shipments, dangerous goods, high-value cargo, flowers and seafood all have established procedures and more than a hundred certified stations worldwide.
The air waybill number (starting 016) tracks the shipment in real time on the United website, and our staff also follow the flight, clearance and delivery, flagging exceptions early.
For a US importer buying from China, a stable carrier with an efficient and complete network means shorter transit, lower stock-out risk and more controllable logistics cost, which is the value United Cargo offers importers.
| Beijing sales office | Phone 86-10-8468-6666 Extensions 6678 / 6660 |
| Shanghai sales office | Phone 86-21-3311-4568 Extensions 8880 / 8881 / 8882 |
| US headquarters cargo line | 1-800-UA-CARGO (1-800-822-2746) Email cargo@united.com |
| Temperature-controlled cargo line | 1-877-525-4628 (TempControl) |
| Urgent medical line | 1-800-863-8666 (LifeGuard) |
Note: these are the published official contacts for China and headquarters. Corporate clients are still better off booking through a forwarder, which simplifies paperwork and gives more secure space.
United accepts online booking and tracking at www.unitedcargo.com (air waybill numbers start 016), and electronic air waybills (eAWB) speed up departure.
San Francisco (SFO) is the core of United's trans-Pacific cargo operation, with a terminal of about 140,000 square feet, 20 loading doors and dedicated temperature-controlled rooms that handle everything from California cherries to biopharma cargo; Los Angeles (LAX) is one of the largest cargo gateways on the US west coast and United's transfer hub for Asia-Pacific and Latin America; the Guam (GUM) hub gathers and distributes cargo for Micronesia and the western Pacific. With Chicago, Newark, Denver and other mainland hubs, cargo transfers efficiently across the United States after arrival. Cargo from China leaving Shanghai or Beijing can be distributed quickly from US hubs to destinations nationwide.
United's TempControl service covers more than 100 certified stations worldwide and supports three ranges: controlled room temperature (+15 to +25 degrees Celsius), chilled (+2 to +8 degrees Celsius) and frozen (0 degrees Celsius and below). A staffed TempControl Tower monitors shipments around the clock and takes measures such as re-icing and equipment lease management. Vaccines, biological reagents, medicines, flowers, seafood and fresh food travel at a constant temperature, and United carried more than 9 million pounds of pharmaceuticals in the second quarter of 2026. Chinese exports of vaccines, biological reagents and fresh food can be booked in TempControl space through us.
LifeGuard is United's service for life-saving medical cargo, covering human tissue, organs, cell and gene therapy and clinical trial material, with the highest loading priority and GPS tracking; dangerous goods can move under the GEN, EXP, QuickPak or TempControl products in compliance with IATA rules, handled at both the Shanghai and Beijing terminals; high-value cargo can use TrustUA, UASecure and other value-added services for tighter security and tracking. Our team can handle booking and documentation for all of this special cargo.
On time-definite products, United offers QuickPak same-day and next-day small parcel express within the United States and EXP expedited freight, loaded by priority, which suits medical equipment, legal documents and machinery spares; UAPremium gives priority protection to high-value perishables such as flowers, fresh food and seafood; for full pallets, full holds and oversize charters, contact a United international sales office or apply for space through a forwarder. All cargo can be tracked in real time at unitedcargo.com with the 016 air waybill number. Chinese exports of urgent and high-value cargo can be given priority loading and tracked throughout.
United retired its last Boeing 747 freighters in 2020 and now carries cargo mainly in passenger belly holds. Cargo is loaded in the holds of Boeing 777 and 787 widebodies using standard ULDs, which is safe, efficient and offers ample space. The model lets United put more flight capacity on busy routes such as China-US, with more frequencies and steadier space.
United's own flights currently depart from Shanghai Pudong and Beijing Capital. Cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Xiamen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou and other cities can be consolidated by us by road or domestic air to Shanghai Pudong or Beijing Capital for onward United flights, so every city gets local handover and airport departure.
Yes, with compliant declaration. Electronics containing lithium batteries and dangerous goods must be declared truthfully under IATA dangerous goods rules with the relevant test reports and transport declarations, and moved under the GEN, EXP, QuickPak or TempControl products that accept dangerous goods. We help clients prepare the declaration documents so the shipment is compliant.
After arrival in San Francisco or Los Angeles, clearance usually takes 1 to 3 days. We can then arrange local truck or express delivery anywhere in the United States, including warehouse receiving. For clients who need US import clearance on DDP or DDU terms, we provide the full service.
Every shipment has an air waybill number starting 016 (for example 016-XXXXXXXX); the number can be entered under Track at www.unitedcargo.com for live status, and our staff also report at each key milestone: booking, departure, arrival, clearance and delivery.
A US buyer only needs to provide the consignee details (company name, address, postal code, contact and tax number) and the cargo details. We handle pickup at the Chinese seller or factory, booking, declaration and air freight, then complete clearance and delivery in the US under the agreed terms. Buyer and seller stay out of the operational steps; a specialist team runs the whole movement.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, based in Shenzhen, China, handles international air freight from China to the United States. We work closely with United and other selected airlines and provide booking, clearance, air transport, customs and delivery in one service. US importers buying from China can contact us for rates and transport plans.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners, and our company has no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airlines described. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent at the time of booking.