(Posted 11th October 2024)
United Airlines today announced plans to further expand its Africa route network
with the introduction of a new nonstop year-round three-times weekly service between Dakar and Washington, D.C., the airline’s first ever service between Senegal and the United States. Starting 24th of May 2025 (subject to government approval), United will be the only airline connecting Dakar with Washington, D.C., and next year will fly from more destinations in Africa than any other U.S. carrier.
The introduction of flights from Dakar to Washington D.C. for 2025 comes as United this year expands its presence in Africa, adding Marrakesh, Morocco to its network from 25 October 2024. United will be the first and only airline to operate nonstop flights from Marrakesh to the U.S., which builds on existing routes from Cape Town, South Africa to New York/Newark and Washington D.C; Johannesburg, South Africa to
New York/Newark; Accra, Ghana to Washington D.C.; and Lagos, Nigeria to Washington D.C. United’s new service to Dakar will help further Africa’s growing tourism industry, which has seen 13 per cent more arrivals in the first quarter this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to the UN Tourism.
“We are excited to announce United’s first ever service from Senegal and a further expansion of our route network from Africa to the U.S.”, said Marcel Fuchs, Managing Director International Sales, United Airlines. “Travellers from Senegal will benefit from a direct service to the U.S. capital, as well as the possibility to connect seamlessly via our Washington Dulles hub to 65 destinations across the Americas, whilst our U.S. customers can take advantage of Dakar’s central location on Africa’s west coastline, making it the perfect gateway to Africa with pristine beaches, lush forests and rich archaeological history.”
The new route from Dakar to Washington D.C. is part of United’s largest international expansion in its history, adding 11 new flights and eight new destinations* for customers next summer. Starting in May 2025, United will launch five new flights from its hub in New York/Newark to destinations no other U.S. airline serves, including Nuuk, Greenland; Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain and Madeira Island and Faro,
Portugal.
The airline is also adding further new routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including new seasonal flights to Nice, France and Venice, Italy. United is also adding new flights from Tokyo-Narita to Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and Koror, Palau – destinations no other U.S. airline serves. These new flights will seamlessly connect to United’s transpacific services operated at Tokyo-Narita to five hub locations in the continental United States.
Many of the new flights will be available for sale on United.com and on the United app in the coming weeks.
United is the largest airline in the world, as measured by available seat miles, and flies to more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. In total, next summer United will offer 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations – including 40 that no other U.S. airline serves.
*Subject to government approvals.
Dakar (DSS) – Washington Dulles (IAD)
Flight From To Depart Arrive Frequency Aircraft Start date
UA460
DSS IAD 09:05 14:05 Mon/Wed/Fri Boeing 767-300 24 May 2025
UA461 IAD DSS 18:30 07:00 +1
Tues/Thurs/Sun Boeing 767-300 23 May 2025
All times are local and subject to change.
N.B. First flight DSS-IAD will operate on Saturday and first flight IAD-DSS will operate on Friday.
Onboard Products and Services
The service from Dakar to Washington D.C. will be operated with United’s Boeing 767-300 aircraft, featuring 30 United Polaris SM business suites with direct aisle access, 24 United Premium Plus SM seats and 149 economy seats, including 32 United Economy Plus SM seats.
United Polaris business class is a premium travel experience that prioritises relaxation and comfort, featuring quality inflight dining, amenity products and services from Therabody and Saks Fifth Avenue and full flat-bed seats with all aisle access.
United Premium Plus features a spacious seat with more legroom, elbow room and recline than a standard Economy Plus or economy seat, as well as an amenity kit, Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and plush pillow.
United Economy Plus offers added legroom and increased personal space. Located near the front of the economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of a swifter exit from the plane on arrival. Economy Plus seating is available on all trans-Atlantic flights.
United economy offers complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, beer and wine, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment. On most aircraft, seats feature an adjustable headrest and a personal on-demand entertainment system.
