United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) will deploy its first two B787-9s on flights between Denver International, Houston Intercontinental and Los Angeles International in August ahead of the type's début on Los Angeles to Melbourne Airport flights in October.

"We will take delivery of both 787-9s in summer, we actually get the first on in July, and we'll be flying them domestically before we launch (Melbourne-Los Angeles) at the end of October" United Airlines executive Matt Miller told the Australian Business Traveller. "For certification it's really just a variant of the 787-8, which we are very comfortable with – we've already taken delivery of nine 'dash 8s' – so as soon as we take delivery of those aircraft we can start using them immediately."

Miller added that the -9s may also be deployed on services to Shanghai Pudong, Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda (should it secure rights).