New Service Beginning Spring 2010
United Airlines adds Ghana, Nigeria & Bahrain to network
United Airlines announced today it will inaugurate its first-ever service to Africa in 2010, with one daily, same-plane service from Washington to Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria. The airline also will extend its existing daily Washington-Kuwait flight to include Bahrain, and will offer a new non-stop flight between Chicago and Brussels, Belgium. Introduction of all of the new services is subject to government approval.
“Our first-ever non-stop service to Africa will offer customers convenient and comfortable travel opportunities to visit two of the fastest-growing cities in the continent,” said Kevin Knight, senior vice president of planning. “In addition, our new services to Bahrain and Brussels will open more international routes to our customers throughout Europe and the Middle East.”
The new routes are consistent with the 2010 capacity outlook United provided on its third quarter earnings conference call and reflect the continuing optimization of United’s international network.
Africa
Daily non-stop service from Washington Dulles to Accra, the capital of the west African nation of Ghana, begins on May 2. The flight will continue from Accra to Lagos, Nigeria. The return flight will operate from Lagos to Accra and Washington. The flights, which will be available for sale this fall, will be operated by Boeing 767 aircraft on the following schedule:
United 990 Washington to Accra
depart 10:10 pm, arrive 12:40 pm (next day), May 2, 2010
United 990 Accra to Lagos
depart 2:20 pm, arrive 4:25 pm, starting May 3, 2010
United 991 Lagos to Accra
depart 9:15 pm, arrive 9:20 pm, starting May 3, 2010
United 991 Accra to Washington
depart 11:00 pm, arrive 6:25 am (next day), starting May 3, 2010
“I am delighted that United Airlines, a global leader in the airline industry, has demonstrated the economic wisdom to expand its routes to include destinations in Africa,” said US Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois. “African economies are among the fastest growing in the world, registering nearly six percent overall economic growth in 2007, the highest in 20 years. United’s new routes are an important element in advancing the mutual trade interests of the United States and Africa, and I am encouraged by the prospects for enhanced economic prosperity for the three nations.”
Middle East
On April 18, United will launch the only same-plane service operated from the Western Hemisphere to the Kingdom of Bahrain. United’s existing non-stop service from Washington Dulles to Kuwait will continue to Bahrain, with the return flight also stopping in Kuwait before continuing to Washington.
Flights will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft on the following schedule:
United 982 Washington to Kuwait
depart 6:12 pm, arrive 1:35 pm (next day), Existing service
United 982 Washington to Kuwait
depart 2:50 pm, arrive 3:55 pm, starting April 18, 2010
United 982 Kuwait to Bahrain
depart 9:25 pm, arrive 10:30 pm, starting April 18, 2010
United 981 Bahrain to Kuwait
depart 11:45 pm, arrive 6:47 am (next day), Existing service
United 981 Kuwait to Washington
schedule not yet posted
The Accra/Lagos and Kuwait/Bahrain flights are conveniently timed for connections at Washington Dulles, United’s principal transatlantic gateway, to and from dozens of cities throughout the Americas. United offers more than 275 daily departures from Washington Dulles to more than 90 cities.
"We are delighted with United's announcement,” said Leo Schefer, president of the Washington Airports Task Force. “Service to a new international market expands a region's trading horizon and increases its competitiveness as a business location and tourist destination."
Brussels
Additionally, United will inaugurate non-stop service between Chicago and Brussels on March 28, offering convenient connections on Brussels Airlines – which joins the Star Alliance on December 9 – to points in Europe and Africa. The Chicago-Brussels services also are timed to offer convenient connections at Chicago O’Hare to and from dozens of cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. As the largest airline in Chicago, United offers more than 570 daily departures to more than 130 cities worldwide. Chicago-Brussels flights will be operated by Boeing 767 aircraft on the following schedule:
United 972 - Chicago to Brussels
depart 6:00 pm, arrive 9:20 am, starting March 28, 2010
United 973 - Brussels to Chicago
depart 11:00 am, arrive 1:15 pm, starting March 29, 2010
United will continue to offer non-stop service between Washington and Brussels.
Customers seated in United First and United Business cabins aboard all transoceanic B767 flights enjoy United’s International Premier Travel Experience, which includes lie-flat seats, iPod connectivity, more than 150 hours of movies and television shows on-demand, and a selection of appetizers and entrees designed by world-renowned chef Charlie Trotter. United’s B777 aircraft will be outfitted with new United First and United Business cabins in 2010 and 2011.
Comments
When exactly is united airline coming/startng operation in lagos?...
It's going to be greatest thing for Nigeria and Africa in General. I can wait to see it work.
please i want to know your contact in Ghana Accra
Just want to know your contacts in Accra-Ghana.
Thanks.
This will be a wellcome change in the Nigerian aviation sector.only one airline operates a direct flight from nigeria to US,with united airline to operate its flight in nigeria,alot of nigerians travellers will embrace it both inbound and outbound flight.
i like to congratulate United Airline for this about to comence flight operation & wish them very succesful business time in nigeria.
I was delighted to hear that United will be flying directly to Nigeria and Ghana. I had thought the flight would be taken off from the home base Chicago. Anyway there is a big market for United for people going to Nigeria here in Chicago and, moreover people can come from Wisconsin, indiana, Michigan and the neighbouring towns to board the flight. I know this would be a good venture for United because we in chicago are tired of having a stop over of 4 to six hours in Europe to join a connecting flight to Nigeria or going to Atlanta to board a direct flight from Delta Airline. I think United should do a visibility study about this proposal. KLM, British Air, Air france, and Lufthansa are some of the Airlines that come to Nigeria everyday and some of the passsengers are from here in Chi town.
thank you it whould be one of the wonderfull thing or moment in the history of our aviation industry in nigeria i want to work with your airline, iam presently working aero contractor, how do i apply.
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