• N14106 United Airlines (Her Art Here-California Livery) Boeing 757-224 (1)
    United Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    UA/UAL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Guam International Airport, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1931
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Scott Kirby
    Country:
    United States

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted United Airlines three weekly flights from Washington D.C. to Cape Town, South Africa. If the South African government approves, United will begin service on November 17.

United will become the first airline to fly nonstop between Washington D.C. and Cape Town

Earlier today, United announced that it had received approval from the US DOT to begin service from Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to Cape Town (CPT). Pending approval of the South Africa Government, United Airlines will fly from IAD-CPT three times weekly and will become the first airline to provide service from the United States capital to South Africa.

"We are thrilled to further expand our Africa offering with this first-ever direct link between Washington DC and Cape Town. 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." - Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, United Airlines

With the launch of the new flights to Cape Town, United will soon offer 19 weekly flights to Africa. Just last year, the airline launched service from New York/Newark to Johannesburg and Washington D.C. to Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria. No other US airline offers as many flights to South Africa.

The new route is highly significant as Washington D.C. is home to the fifth-largest South African-born population. The new route provides those living in the United States almost daily options between the IAD and EWR flights to CPT. Those flying from Cape Town will be able to connect to 55 cities in the United States on United's network. Broad connection will also be offered to those flying from Washington D.C. through United's South African partner Airlink, which has a hub in Cape Town.

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Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

Securing the slots in Cape Town proved to be a challenge as both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines were competing for four remaining slots. In February, Delta announced that it planned to launch thrice weekly flights from Atlanta to Cape Town, and United followed suit with its own announcement that it planned to fly to Cape Town three times weekly from Washington D.C. The US DOT was faced with a tough decision as each airline expressed the desire to have three weekly flights, and there were only four slots to be awarded. Due to negotiations with South Africa, the US DOT was able to secure two extra slots so that Delta and United could each have 3x weekly flights, as planned.

UA 2222 and UA 2223

United has selected the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to service the new IAD-CPT route. The 787-9 is configured in a three-class configuration, with 48 lie-flat United Polaris business class seats, 21 United Premium Plus seats, and 188 seats in economy. Every seat is equipped with seatback entertainment, allowing customers to relax during the long flight. UA2222 will depart Washington D.C. (IAD) at 18:40 local time and will arrive in Cape Town at 16:10 (+1) local time and is blocked at 14h30m. UA2223 will depart Cape Town at 20:50 local time and arrive in Washington D.C at 05:50 (+1) local time, and is blocked at 16 hours.