United Airlines operates flights to all six inhabited continents, including five flights to the African continent. Africa is a massive continent (the second largest in the world with the second-highest population) and is made up of around 56 countries, and United is planning to operate a record six routes to Africa by the end of the year. After examining the data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, we have looked at United’s five African flights scheduled for the month of August.
South Africa-bound flights
All five of United’s Africa-bound flights depart from New York’s Newark International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. Three of United’s five African flights fly to South Africa. South Africa is the top tourist destination in Sub-Saharan Africa and the favorite destination for safaris (although Kenya and Tanzania are also very popular).
United operates two South African flights from Newark to Capetown and Johannesburg. The Newark-Capetown route is served by a Boeing 777 and is scheduled to have 13 flights in August, carrying 3,588 seats. The Newark-Johannesburg route is busier, with 31 scheduled flights for August and 7,967 seats. Those taking the flight need to strap in for the 14-hour and 55-minute long-haul service.
United’s third flight to South Africa departs Washington Dulles to Capetown using a Boeing 777. According to Cirium, the route will see 14 services in August with a scheduled flight time of 14 hours and 50 minutes. United has previously noted that passengers want to be able to fly to Capetown year-round.
West Africa-bound flights
Besides South Africa, United Airlines connects the US only with two other countries in Africa—Ghana and Nigeria (both in the West African region). These are both English-speaking countries with large populations (Ghana is home to over 33 million, while Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa at 218 million).
These flights from Washington Dulles operate with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The flights to Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport serve Accra (the capital of Ghana); 13 flights, with 3,159 seats, are scheduled for August. United’s Nigeria schedule will see 14 flights in August to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which serves Lagos (one of the world’s largest cities with a greater city population of around 21 million).
Currently, United only flies to Sub-Saharan African countries and not to North African nations like Morocco and Egypt. However, this is about to change, as the carrier has announced it will operate flights to Morocco’s Marakesh later this year. United Airlines’ rival Delta Air Lines also flies to South Africa’s Johannesburg and Capetown, as well as Ghana and Nigeria (this is a far cry from Delta’s massive planned African expansion in 2008).