United Airlines has introduced direct flights between Dakar and Washington, with service operating three times a week. The inaugural flight took off from Washington’s Dulles International Airport at 18:30 on May 23, landing in Dakar at 07:00 the following morning.
Following Air Senegal’s decision to cease its operations to the United States, United Airlines seized the opportunity to connect the two countries. United’s new route marks its first-ever service between Senegal and the United States. This route is particularly significant as Dakar is the airline’s sixth destination in Africa, and it is currently the only carrier offering direct flights between Dakar and Washington, D.C.
The flight schedule for this route includes departures from Washington on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with return flights from Dakar on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The service is operated using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, featuring various seating options to accommodate passenger preferences.
This strategic expansion to Africa is part of United Airlines’ largest international expansion in its history, with new routes and destinations added across the Atlantic. In addition to the Dakar-Washington route, United is introducing several new flights from its New York/Newark and Washington D.C./Dulles hubs to unique destinations, further solidifying its position as the largest airline in the world by available seat miles. Travelers can expect over 800 daily flights to 140 international destinations this summer.