Proposed nonstop flights from Washington
Dulles to Cape Town will create a
long-overdue, direct route supporting critical diplomatic and
thriving economic ties between the legislative capitals
Washington
D.C. to Cape Town is the
most in-demand route between the U.S. and South Africa without nonstop service
CHICAGO, May 18, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines announced today it has filed an
application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for
three weekly nonstop flights between Washington, D.C. and Cape Town, South Africa. If approved, United's
flights will become the first nonstop service ever between
Washington D.C. and South Africa's legislative capital,
Cape Town. This long-overdue route
will benefit important government-to-government connections and
increase communication and commerce with a region that has strong
cultural ties to South Africa.
United's proposed service would begin Nov. 17, 2022, and operate on 787-9 aircraft,
maximized to meet consumer demand and benefit both U.S. and South
African travelers. If approved, the flights between Dulles and
Cape Town will connect 55 cities
across the United States to
Cape Town, representing more than
90 percent of the entire U.S. travel demand to Cape Town. United's Washington Dulles hub is a
gateway to the nation's capital and elsewhere, operating more than
230 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations around the world –
including more than 10 world capitals and new service to
Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.
"From creating new jobs, to supporting key civic and aid
organizations, United has taken tremendous pride in growing our
family and operations in South
Africa, and across the African continent," said Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President
of International Network and Alliances. "If awarded by the DOT,
this historic nonstop service will significantly enhance travel
options for consumers, strengthen ties between our countries
legislative and diplomatic epicenters, and benefit thriving travel
and tourism industries serving our respective countries."
United has worked diligently to develop an African network
to promote competition and provide affordable and consistent
service options for U.S. travelers. The service will supplement
United's existing flights to four cities in three countries in
Africa. It will also allow
customers to connect in Cape Town
to other points in South Africa,
and to other countries in the southern region of the African
continent with its South African based partner Airlink and their
Cape Town hub.
The Washington D.C. to
Cape Town route is the largest
between the U.S. and South Africa
without nonstop service. D.C. is the second largest point in the
U.S. for Cape Town demand and
holds the fifth largest South-African-born population. United's
proposed weekly flights will address this gap and complement
United's existing South Africa
service between New
York/Newark and
Cape Town and Johannesburg, providing nearly daily service
to Cape Town offered by a single
carrier.
United also maintains a close relationship with the Mandela
Foundation and BPESA (Business Processing Enabling South Africa) a
not-for-profit company that serves as the industry body and trade
association for Global Business Services in South Africa. United recently announced a
collaboration with travel company Certified Africa. Certified
Africa's mission is to make travel
to African countries easy, immersive, and life changing for
millions of the African Diaspora across the United States.
About United
United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the
World." From our U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, New
York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most
comprehensive global route network among North American carriers.
United is bringing back our customers' favorite destinations and
adding new ones on its way to becoming the world's best airline.
For more about how to join the United team, please
visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company
is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent
company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the
symbol "UAL".
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-applies-to-launch-historic-first-ever-nonstop-service-between-washington-dc-and-cape-town-301550417.html
SOURCE United Airlines