United Airlines has officially launched nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Dakar, Senegal, marking a historic milestone as the first direct connection between the U.S. capital and the West African city.
The inaugural flight departed from Washington, D.C., on May 23 and arrived in Dakar the following morning, establishing United as the only airline in the world offering nonstop service on this route. The new service operates three times a week on a year-round basis.
“This is an exciting milestone as we introduce United’s first-ever service to Senegal,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. “This route strengthens our growing network from Africa to the United States.”
Flights from Dulles depart on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving in Dakar the next day. Return flights leave Dakar on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, landing in Washington the same day.
The route is operated with a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, configured with 30 Polaris business class seats, 24 United Premium Plus seats, and 149 economy seats.
Dakar becomes United’s sixth destination in Africa, following a steady expansion of its international network. In addition to Senegal, United currently operates flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, Accra in Ghana, Lagos in Nigeria, and Marrakesh in Morocco, the latter of which was introduced as a seasonal service from Newark last October.
The Washington–Dakar route underscores United’s strategic commitment to growing its transcontinental reach and offering more direct options between Africa and the United States.
