United Airlines has inaugurated its new nonstop service between its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport and Murtala MuhammedInternational Airport with the arrival of the first flight into Lagos last Tuestday.
With three weekly flights, United is the first and only airline serving Washington, D.C. nonstop from Lagos.
The flight is operated with state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring United’s award-winning United PolarisSM business class cabin and United Premium PlusSM premium economy seats. The new service marks United’s return to Nigeria, which the airline previously served up until 2016.
A water cannon salute marked the arrival of United flight UA612 with United’s Country Sales Manager Nigeria, Oluwatomi Bola-Sadipe, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Regional General Manager, Victoria Shin-Aba and US Consul General, Claire Pierangelowelcoming the first arriving United customers at Murtala MuhammedInternational Airport.
“This new flight from Lagos reinforces our ongoing commitment to growing our network in Africa and providing more convenient service to the destinations our customers want to fly to most,” said United’s Senior Vice President International Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle.
“This highly anticipated service will provide a key gateway between Lagos and Washington D.C., as well as easy one-stop connections to almost 80 destinations across the Americas, including Houston and Chicago.”
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“This exciting initiative further expands our economic relationship, promotes people-to-people ties, and creates new opportunities for United, travel companies, and customers alike,” said US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.
This new flight builds on United’s expansion into Africa and solidifies the airline’s leadership position from Africa to the US. Earlier this year, United launched new service between Johannesburg and New York/Newark and between Accra and Washington, D.C. This December and January, United will increase its Accra service from three weekly flights to daily. United will also bring back its popular nonstop service between Cape Town and New York/Newark on 1 December 2021.
United’s new flights comply with each countries’ COVID-19 protocols and customers should check destination requirements before travelling.
United’s new service from Lagos to Washington D.C. is operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 28 United Polaris business class lie-flat seats, 21 United Premium Plus premium economy seats, 36 Economy PlusSM seats and 158 standard economy seats. This flight is the only service between Nigeria and the U.S. to offer a premium economy product.
The airline said the revolutionary design of the Dreamliner offers customers many features for increased comfort, such as large windows, spacious overhead storage and modern LED lighting to simulate a full day, helping passengers adjust their internal clock on the transatlantic flight. In addition, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and smoother ride help customers feel rested on arrival.
