United Airlines launches Washington to Cape Town route
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has celebrated the launch of United Airlines’ new nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. The route is operated three times per week with a 787-9. The launch date coincided with the airport’s celebration of its 60th anniversary.
“The Airports Authority and our airline partners have been intently focused on growing our service to Africa,” said Jack Potter, President and CEO, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. “This new Cape Town service further strengthens our region’s already strong links to Africa and highlights United’s continued international expansion at Washington Dulles. And with the opening of the Silver Line Metro station at Dulles, our passengers have more options than ever to travel around the region and around the world.”
At an event to launch the inaugural flight, officials from the Airports Authority, United Airlines, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and the U.S. Departments of State and Transportation joined passengers in celebrating the new service. Traditional South African food and drink were provided, along with a performance of traditional South African music.
“From the opening of the Silver Line Metro station at Dulles to the 60th anniversary of this airport, it has truly been a historic week for our Washington, D.C., hub,” said Henry Bird, United’s Managing Director of Airport Operations at Dulles International Airport. “United is proud to culminate those celebrations by becoming the first airline to provide nonstop roundtrip service from our nation’s capital to Cape Town, South Africa. With Washington, D.C. being home to the fifth largest South-African-born population, these new flights will not only enrich and connect two capitals with strong cultural ties but also build upon our hub’s growing service to the continent of Africa, where we recently also launched flights to Accra, Ghana, and Lagos, Nigeria.”
