SAA will launch a non-stop service between Accra, Ghana and Washington DC from August 2. The airline currently operates a daily service between Johannesburg and Washington via Dakar, Senegal, and will reroute four of these flights via Accra, the remaining three flights will continue operating via Dakar.
It also currently operates daily flights between Johannesburg and Accra. From August four of the weekly Accra flights continue onwards to Washington and three will continue on to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The new route is expected to strengthen SAA’s position in West Africa.
“This is a major development and achievement for the airline as part of our Long-Term Turnaround Strategy where we have set growth on the African continent as one of our key objectives. With a strong presence in West Africa, in the form of non-stop services between Accra and Washington D.C. and through our airline partnerships, our customers will soon have access to further destinations in West Africa,” says Nico Bezuidenhout, South African Airways acting CEO.
SAA has also entered into a bilateral codeshare agreement with Africa World Airlines. This airline partnership will offer SAA customers from Washington and Johannesburg seamless connectivity via Accra to other destinations in Ghana such as Kumasi, Takoradi, and Tamale as well as to Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a statement by SAA, Africa World Airlines is the fastest growing airline in Ghana. It operates domestic and regional flights in West Africa and is based at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The Accra-Washington route will be served by A340-600s on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, featuring 42 fully flat beds in premium business class and 275 seats in economy class.
The new schedule linking Johannesburg, Accra, Washington and Abidjan will be as follows:
- Flight SA209 will depart Johannesburg at 17h25 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Accra at 21h45. It then departs Accra at 22h45 to arrive in Washington the next day at 06h05.
- Flight SA210 departs Washington at 17h40 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Accra at 07h40. It then departs Accra at 08h40 arriving in Johannesburg at 16h30.
- Flight SA052 will depart Johannesburg at 16h55 and arrive in Accra at 21h15.
- Flight SA053 departs Accra at 22h30 on Saturdays arriving in Johannesburg at 06h20 the next day.
- Flight SA056 departs Johannesburg at 12h50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays arriving in Accra at 17h10. It then departs Accra at 18h10, arriving in Abidjan at 19h10.
- Flight SA057 departs Abidjan at 20h10 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Accra at 21h25. It then departs Accra at 22h30 to arrive in Johannesburg at 06h20 the next day.
