United Airlines has revealed an enhancement in its service frequency between Lagos and Washington D.C., increasing from three flights per week to daily operations.

The new daily flights will commence on December 4, 2024, and run until February 14, 2025, representing a 133 percent increase in available seats compared to the previous year.

This marks the inaugural daily service for United between Lagos and Washington D.C., maintaining its status as the only nighttime departure from Lagos to the United States. This schedule allows travelers from Nigeria to enjoy more options for visiting Washington D.C. and facilitates convenient daytime connections to various destinations throughout the Americas.

Since the introduction of United’s Lagos to Washington service in 2021, the airline has utilized the advanced Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which includes 28 United Polaris business class lie-flat seats, 21 United Premium Plus premium economy seats, 36 Economy Plus seats, and 158 standard economy seats. The innovative design of the Dreamliner enhances passenger comfort with features such as large windows, ample overhead storage, and modern LED lighting that mimics natural daylight, aiding travelers in adjusting their internal clocks during the transatlantic journey.

Oluwatomi Bola-Sadipe, United’s Country Sales Manager for Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, stated: “Africa remains a vital component of United’s global network, and we are thrilled to announce the increase in flights from Lagos to Washington Dulles for the winter season using our state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner. We take pride in providing our customers in Nigeria with enhanced travel options for their next trip to the U.S., as well as convenient one-stop connections to over 70 destinations across the Americas, including Houston, Chicago, and New York/Newark.”

The rise in flights from Lagos to Washington D.C. coincides with United Airlines' expansion in Africa, as the airline adds Marrakesh, Morocco to its network starting October 25, 2024. United will be the first and only carrier to provide nonstop service from Marrakesh to the United States, in addition to existing routes from Cape Town, South Africa to New York/Newark and Washington D.C., as well as from Johannesburg, South Africa to New York/Newark and from Accra, Ghana to Washington D.C.

Bola-Sadipe highlighted that United Polaris business class offers a premium travel experience focused on comfort and relaxation, featuring high-quality inflight dining, amenities from Therabody and Saks Fifth Avenue, and fully flat-bed seats with direct aisle access.

United Premium Plus provides a roomy seat with enhanced legroom, elbow space, and recline compared to standard Economy Plus or economy seats, along with an amenity kit, a Saks Fifth Avenue blanket, and a plush pillow.

United Economy Plus delivers additional legroom and greater personal space. Positioned near the front of the economy cabin, these seats allow for quicker disembarkation upon arrival. Economy Plus seating is available on all trans-Atlantic flights.

United Economy class includes complimentary meals, soft drinks, juices, beer, wine, tea, coffee, and inflight entertainment. Most aircraft are equipped with adjustable headrests and personal on-demand entertainment systems.

United initially operated flights to Nigeria from 2010 to 2016 and resumed services in 2021. Currently, United provides a nonstop service three times a week from Lagos to Washington, D.C., which will increase to daily flights during the winter season. Customers in Nigeria can conveniently book their flights online at united.com.

United Airlines is expanding its African network with the introduction of six new routes from its Newark and Washington Dulles hubs. A notable highlight is the launch of flights to Marrakech, marking the first time this popular Moroccan city will be connected to the United States.

While the announcement is not entirely new, it is important to recap United's developments regarding flights to Morocco. In early March, the airline revealed its plans, making Marrakech its fifth African destination served by its own aircraft. Prior to 2024, the city had not seen any North American flights, but it will soon welcome United and Air Transat from Montreal.

Starting October 24, United will operate three weekly flights using the 167-seat Boeing 767-300ER, which features 46 Polaris seats—an impressive offering for a route that will cater to both tourists and the diaspora.

In addition to its new Moroccan routes, United is also tapping into higher-end leisure markets, such as the Newark to Nice route this summer. It will be interesting to observe how the service performs in Morocco, especially given the availability of luxury tours.

According to Simple Flying, United Airlines operates its largest transatlantic hub just across the Hudson River from New York City, connecting to destinations worldwide. The airline holds a commanding presence at the airport, boasting a market share exceeding 68 percent in 2023, far surpassing the second-place Spirit Airlines, which had a 5.7 percent share last year.

With over 33 million passengers traveling through the airport annually, United Airlines has developed a broad and dynamic international route network from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). While the airport is crucial for the airline's transatlantic services, it also connects to numerous destinations in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

As a prominent transatlantic hub, it is expected that European destinations play a significant role in United Airlines' international operations at EWR. The airline offers nearly 20 year-round routes to various locations across the continent, in addition to over a dozen seasonal options.

The year-round routes typically include high-traffic, traditional hub-and-spoke destinations such as London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), and Frankfurt Airport (FRA), which serves as a hub for Lufthansa, a fellow member of the Star Alliance. Last year, London Heathrow was the most frequented international route from Newark, accommodating nearly 800,000 passengers.

For these high-demand routes, United Airlines primarily utilizes its larger Boeing 777-200 and 777-300ER aircraft. Some of the smaller year-round destinations are serviced by Boeing 767 and 787 models.

The airline's seasonal European routes present a more intriguing aspect, as they often include lower-demand locations that are not typically served by a legacy carrier like United Airlines. Fortunately, the airline can rely on the versatile Boeing 757 to meet these needs.