United Airlines launches inaugural flight into Africa
18-Jun-2010 United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) launches its first-ever service to the continent of Africa on Sunday, June 20, with the 10:10 p.m. departure of United 990 between Washington and Accra, the capital of Ghana.
United 990, a Boeing 767 aircraft, will arrive at Kotoka International Airport in Accra the next day at 12:40 p.m. U.S.-bound service from Accra begins June 21 with the departure of United 991 at 11 p.m., arriving in Washington the next day at 6:25 a.m.
Joining United on the first flight will be The Honorable Daniel Ohene Agyekum, the Ghanaian ambassador to the United States and American Idol Finalist and recording artist, Elliott Yamin.
Flights to and from Accra are conveniently timed for connections at Washington Dulles, United's principal trans-Atlantic gateway, to more than 70 cities in North America. As the largest airline in the nation's capital, United offers nearly 300 daily departures from Washington Dulles.
"With the addition of service to Accra, United now offers customers nonstop service to points on six continents," said Jeff Foland, United's senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. "We're proud to connect our customers to this vibrant and emerging capital, and look forward to making this new route a tremendous success." Malaria No More and ExxonMobil are joining United to initially distribute more than one thousand nets to families in rural Ghana, which marks the beginning of a larger commitment to improve the lives of Ghanaians. "Along with the economic value our new service provides to Ghana, we have responsibility and commitment to do our part to address a critical need in the region," said Sonya Jackson, president, United Airlines Foundation. Malaria No More is an organization dedicated to ending malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.
Marking United's six continent reach, Foland joined with Ambassador Agyekum, Malaria No More CEO Scott Case, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and more than 40 members of the diplomatic community and government in a National Press Club reception today in Washington.
Upon arrival in Accra on Monday afternoon, United will join with Ghanaian officials and The Honorable Donald G. Teitelbaum, the U.S. ambassador to Ghana, in an inaugural ceremony, followed Monday evening by a reception with the ambassador.