According to a press release from United Airlines, the carrier is getting ready to start a new direct non-stop service between Washington Dulles Airport and Cape Town.
On November 17, 2022, the airline will launch its three weekly direct flights, which were approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT).
The airline has started selling tickets for its brand-new, nonstop flight to Cape Town, which will be run by its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The South African government must still approve the new route, though.
The airline’s expansion in Africa was discussed by Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of global network planning and alliances at United.
“These new flights build upon our existing year-round New York/Newark to Cape Town service – together they’ll provide a near-daily pattern from the U.S. to Cape Town along with connectivity to the broader region through our Airlink partnership,” said Quayle in the statement.
DC, Washington According to the airline, is also home to the fifth-largest population of South Africans, making the new route a desirable move for both the airline and its clients.
“Prior to the new United flight, Washington, D.C. to Cape Town was the largest route between the U.S. and Cape Town without nonstop service,” said United in the statement.
Currently, United Airlines has more flights to South Africa than any other airline in North America.
According to the announcement, the airline would soon provide a total of 19 weekly trips to Africa. This includes nonstop service from New York/Newark to Washington, D.C. and Johannesburg. The airline began service to Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria, in 2021.
