- New flight is the airline’s first ever service between Senegal and the U.S.
- United is the only airline connecting Dakar with Washington D.C.
- United is now serving six destinations in Africa
United Airlines has launched its new year-round, nonstop service between Dakar and Washington, D.C., operating three times weekly. The inaugural flight arrived at Blaise Diagne International Airport on 24 May, marking the airline’s first-ever service between Senegal and the United States.
Dakar becomes United’s sixth destination in Africa, and the airline is the sole carrier connecting Dakar with Washington, D.C.
This new route signifies a significant step in United’s ongoing expansion across Africa. It follows the launch of a seasonal service between Marrakesh, Morocco, and New York/Newark in October last year. United also operates flights from Cape Town, South Africa, to New York/Newark and Washington, D.C.; Johannesburg, South Africa, to New York/Newark; Accra, Ghana, to Washington, D.C.; and Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington, D.C. The introduction of the Dakar–Washington D.C. service aims to further support Africa’s growing tourism industry.
“We are excited to launch United’s first-ever service from Senegal, further expanding our route network from Africa to the U.S.,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, United Airlines. “Travellers from Senegal will benefit from a direct service to the U.S. capital, as well as the possibility to connect seamlessly via our Washington Dulles hub to 65 destinations across the Americas. Our U.S. customers can take advantage of Dakar’s central location on Africa’s west coastline, making it the perfect gateway to Africa with pristine beaches, lush forests, and rich archaeological history.”
“By welcoming United Airlines to Blaise Diagne Airport, we are opening a new route for connections to America,” said Askin Demir, General Director of LAS. “The arrival of United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the United States, will offer travellers from AIBD more connections to the United States and beyond, to the American continent. This flight, operating three times a week on the Dakar–Washington route, allows us to enhance our commercial offer for the American destination, while also reinforcing our connection network in our main markets, which are West Africa and Europe. This new flight is also a major asset for the development of tourism, thereby strengthening the leisure market segment, which already holds a significant share of traffic at Dakar Airport.”
“Today, United Airlines is launching not simply a new air route, but new ways to bring our two nations closer together,” said Michael Raynor, U.S. Ambassador to Senegal. “United’s entry into Francophone West Africa, with Senegal as its first destination, speaks volumes about the boundless potential that the United States private sector and government see in this region, and in Senegal in particular as a dynamic and democratic hub with a strategic location, a fast-growing economy, and a talented workforce. I’m particularly excited that this new route will make it easier for more Americans to discover Senegal – this wonderful land of cultural vibrancy, boundless potential, and the generous spirit of Teranga.”
The new service between Dakar and Washington D.C. is part of United’s largest international expansion in its history, adding six new destinations and nine new routes across the Atlantic for customers this summer. United is launching five new flights from its hub in New York/Newark to destinations no other U.S. airline serves, including Nuuk, Greenland; Bilbao, Spain; Palermo, Italy; and Madeira Island and Faro, Portugal. The airline is also adding three new routes from Washington D.C./Dulles, including its first-ever flight to Dakar, Senegal, operating year-round and new seasonal flights to Nice, France and Venice, Italy, as well as a new seasonal service between Rome and Denver. United is the largest airline in the world, as measured by available seat miles, and flies to more international destinations than any other U.S. carrier. In total, this summer United will offer over 800 daily flights to and from 140 international destinations – including 32 that no other U.S. airline serves.
Dakar (DSS) – Washington Dulles (IAD)
| Flight | From | To | Depart | Arrive | Frequency | Aircraft | Start date |
| UA460 | DSS | IAD | 09:05 | 14:05 | Mon/Wed/Sat | Boeing 767-300 | 24 May 2025 |
| UA461 | IAD | DSS | 18:30 | 07:00+1 | Tues/Fri/Sun | Boeing 767-300 | 23 May 2025 |
All times are local and subject to change.
N.B. First flight DSS-IAD will operate on Saturday and first flight IAD-DSS will operate on Friday.
Onboard Products and Services
The service from Dakar to Washington D.C. will be operated with United’s Boeing 767-300 aircraft, featuring 30 United PolarisSM business suites with direct aisle access, 24 United Premium PlusSM seats and 149 economy seats, including 32 United Economy PlusSM seats.
United Polaris business class is a premium travel experience that prioritises relaxation and comfort, featuring quality inflight dining, amenity products and services from Therabody and Saks Fifth Avenue and full flat-bed seats with all aisle access.
United Premium Plus features a spacious seat with more legroom, elbow room and recline than a standard Economy Plus or economy seat, as well as an amenity kit, Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and plush pillow.
United Economy Plus offers added legroom and increased personal space. Located near the front of the economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of a swifter exit from the plane on arrival. Economy Plus seating is available on all trans-Atlantic flights.
United Economy offers complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, beer and wine, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment. On most aircraft, seats feature an adjustable headrest and a personal on-demand entertainment system.
United in Senegal
United customers in Senegal can book flights by visiting united.com or contacting United City Ticket Office operated by Brussels Airlines locally on +221 33 823 04 60 Mon-Fri 8.30am – 4.30pm, or their travel agent.
United in Washington Dulles
United currently operates over 250 daily flights to over 115 destinations across the United States and around the world from its Washington Dulles hub. Washington Dulles serves as the international gateway to the U.S. capital, with United service to 21 world capitals and 30 countries for 2025.
