United Airlines Expands Accra–Washington D.C. Flights to Daily Service

United Airlines has expanded its non-stop service between Accra and Washington D.C., increasing the frequency from three weekly flights to daily service. According to a press statement released on November 19, 2024, the new schedule, which began on October 25, 2024, represents a 67% year-over-year increase in seating capacity. This daily service is expected to run until February 17, 2025, after which flights will be reduced to six per week during the summer season.

The Washington–Accra route was reinstated by United Airlines in May 2021, initially offering three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays aboard Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The service had previously been suspended in July 2012 due to poor financial performance and high oil prices. United announced its intention to resume the route on September 9, 2020, and relaunched it as planned in spring 2021.

The current expansion reflects United Airlines' growing commitment to the African market. This includes the airline’s recently launched seasonal service between Marrakesh and New York/Newark and its plans to introduce a new route from Dakar to Washington D.C. in 2025, pending government approval.

United’s footprint in Africa also includes non-stop flights from Cape Town to New York/Newark and Washington D.C.; Johannesburg to New York/Newark; Lagos to Washington D.C.; and Accra to Washington D.C. United remains the first and only airline to offer direct flights from Marrakesh to the U.S. that commenced on October 24, 2024.

Enhanced Travel Options and Connectivity

“Africa continues to be an integral part of United’s global network, and we are delighted to announce an increase in flights from Accra to Washington Dulles,” said Oluwatomi Bola-Sadipe, United’s Country Sales Manager for Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. “We are proud to offer our customers in Ghana even greater travel choices for their next U.S. getaway while providing convenient one-stop connections to over 70 destinations across the Americas, including Chicago, Columbus, Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.”

The updated flight schedule for the Accra (ACC) – Washington Dulles (IAD) route is as follows:

From February 18, 2025, flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
From February 17, 2025, flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. United Airlines operates its Accra–Washington Dulles service using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which features 28 all-aisle-access United PolarisSM business class seats, 21 United Premium PlusSM premium economy seats, and 36 United Economy PlusSM seats.

United Airlines vs. Delta Airlines in Ghana

United Airlines is one of two American carriers serving Ghana, alongside Delta Airlines. Delta offers daily non-stop flights between Accra and New York-JFK. Recently, Delta introduced the Airbus A330-900neo on this route, effective October 1, 2024. The change followed concerns raised by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) over the reliability of Delta's Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which had experienced multiple technical issues, including a 2022 incident involving a fuel imbalance that forced a diversion back to Accra.