UNITED Airlines has increased the frequency of its flights between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Accra Kotoka International Airport (ACC). The route, previously operating three times a week, now offers daily flights to meet the growing demand for travel between Ghana and the United States. The change came into effect on October 25, coinciding with the start of the 2024-2025 IATA winter season.
Significant seat increase
The increased service represents a 67 percent rise in available seats year-over-year. Daily operations will run until February 17 2025, after which the schedule will adjust to six weekly flights for the summer season, excluding Tuesdays (eastbound) and Wednesdays (westbound).
Oluwatomi Bola-Sadipe, United Airlines’ Country Sales Manager for Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, remarked: ‘Africa continues to be an integral part of United’s global network, and we are delighted to announce an increase of flights from Accra to Washington Dulles. We are proud to not only offer our customers in Ghana even greater travel choice when booking their next US getaway but also provide convenient one-stop connections to over 70 destinations across the Americas, including Chicago, Columbus, Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.’
The flights are designed to optimise connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Accra, enabling smooth transfers through Washington Dulles to other destinations across the United States.
Aircraft and passenger experience
United operates the route using its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, featuring a four-class configuration:
- 28 Polaris business class seats
- 21 United Premium Plus seats
- 36 Economy Plus seats
- 158 standard economy seats
Passengers can enjoy the Dreamliner’s cutting-edge design, including large windows, advanced LED lighting that mimics natural daylight, and enhanced cabin pressure to reduce fatigue on long-haul flights.
Expanding United’s African footprint
United Airlines has positioned itself as a leading carrier between Africa and the United States, offering extensive connections via its hubs. In November 2024, the airline ranked third in terms of seat capacity on African routes, following Ethiopian Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
The carrier serves five African destinations: Accra, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Marrakesh. A new route between Washington Dulles and Dakar (DSS) is also in the pipeline, pending government approval, with a planned launch date of May 23 2025.
The bigger picture
As demand for transatlantic travel grows, United Airlines’ move to increase flights aligns with the rising interest in connecting African cities to global destinations. This expansion not only strengthens Ghana’s accessibility but also boosts opportunities for business, tourism, and cultural exchange.
