United Airlines has inaugurated its nonstop daily service between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and O.R. Tambo International Airport, with the arrival of the first flight into Johannesburg today. The new service is operated with state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring United’s award-winning United PolarisSM business class cabin and United Premium PlusSM premium economy seats. Together with the airline’s seasonal, three-times weekly service between Cape Town and New York/Newark, United will offer more nonstop services from South Africa than any other U.S airline and is the only airline providing a daily nonstop service between Johannesburg and New York.

A special (grey) water salute marked the arrival of United flight UA188 from New York/Newark, with Nompumelelo (Mpumi) Z. Mpofu, CEO Airports Company South Africa, Todd Haskell, Chargé d’Affaires U.S. Mission to South Africa and Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, South Africa Minister of Tourism welcoming the first arriving United customers at O.R. Tambo International Airport.

“We are excited to inaugurate our new service between New York/Newark and Johannesburg, which further expands our Africa route network and provides our customers from South Africa with even greater travel choices via our New York/Newark hub to as many as 80 U.S. destinations this year,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s Vice President of International Network and Alliances. “This service, operated with a brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offers our customers from South Africa our newest, award-winning aircraft, featuring our United Polaris suites and United Premium Plus seats.”

“The inauguration of daily flights by United Airlines is a vote of confidence in South Africa as a safe destination for business and leisure tourism, but also in the health and safety protocols we apply to ensure that air travel to, from and within South Africa remains safe and does not promote the spread of COVID-19 internationally. As Africa’s largest airport operator, we are acutely aware of the social and economic impact that the pandemic and travel restrictions have caused. The opening of this new long-haul route is a major milestone on South Africa’s and the region’s road to recovery,” said Mpumi Mpofu, Airports Company South Africa CEO.

“United Airlines’ launch of daily service between Newark and Johannesburg shows the confidence and connection that binds our two countries. This flight builds a bridge between the United States and South Africa that will open doors for greater trade and investment and inject millions of dollars into South Africa’s tourism economy. We are proud to open this new chapter in our relationship,” said Todd Haskell, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Mission to South Africa.

“We are excited to welcome United Airlines as it will definitely boost South Africa’s efforts to continue to grow business and leisure tourists’ arrivals out of North America. South Africa is ready to welcome back visitors from across the world and is certainly open for business. We look forward to many years of success on this route, as we continue to satisfy the needs of our travellers,” said Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, South Africa Minister of Tourism.

“The aviation sector worldwide has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Our Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has not been an exception. Though we have not recovered to pre-covid numbers, the indications are that we are on a recovery path and South Africa is still a destination of choice for economic and tourism travellers. The return of United Airlines to South Africa is one of the important indicators that we are on a recovery path and the aviation sector will see growth. We welcome and celebrate the return of United Airlines back to our open skies,” said Fikile Mbalula, South Africa Minister of Transport.

The United Travel Experience
United’s new service from Johannesburg to New York/Newark is operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 48 all-aisle-access United Polaris business suites, 21 United Premium Plus premium economy, 39 Economy PlusSM and 149 Economy seats. 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.

United Polaris business class is a premium travel experience that prioritises relaxation and comfort, featuring restaurant-quality inflight dining, premium amenity kits and full flat-bed seats.

United in South Africa
United began service to South Africa in 2019 with a seasonal service from Cape Town. In addition to the new service from Johannesburg to New York/Newark, United is set to resume its seasonal three-times weekly nonstop service from Cape Town to New York/Newark in November 2021. Flights are conveniently timed to connect at United’s New York/Newark hub with an extensive network of services to destinations throughout the Americas. United customers in South Africa can book flights by visiting united.com or contacting the United Reservations on 0214268058 or their travel agent.

United in New York/Newark
In June 2021, United plans to operate more than 200 daily flights to more than 100 destinations around the world from its New York/Newark hub, and is set to increase to almost 250 daily flights to more than 110 destinations around the world in July 2021. United expects to operate its full schedule from Newark later this year with 450 daily departures to 150 destinations including approximately 80 throughout the U.S. Located just 14 miles from Manhattan, Newark Liberty International Airport offers the fastest surface transfer journeys to many parts of the city, including the AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan, with a journey time of less than 30 minutes.

Committed to Ensuring a Safe Journey
United is committed to putting health and safety at the forefront of every customer’s journey, with the goal of delivering an industry-leading standard of cleanliness through its United CleanPlusTM programme.

United has teamed up with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic to redefine cleaning and health safety procedures from check-in to landing and has implemented more than a dozen new policies, protocols and innovations designed with the safety of customers and employees in mind. To manage entry requirements in different destinations, and find places to get tests, customers can visit United’s Travel-Ready Center.

On 15 April 2019, Cape Town Air Access welcomed United Airline’s announcement of the upcoming, nonstop New York/Newark–Cape Town route. This direct flight, commencing from 15 December 2019 out of Newark Liberty International Airport, marks a long-awaited return to Africa for United.

Western Cape Minister for Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier added: “The New York/Newark–Cape Town route is a game-changer for the Western Cape. In addition to the increase in tourism revenue, through thousands of additional travellers, it is also estimated that the new route will help increase trade between the Cape and the USA, with cargo capacity on the route contributing R94m in potential trade.

“This means that we will also be growing exports, and attracting investment. This aligns with our key strategic focus of growing the economy and creating jobs across the province.”

Alderman James Vos, the mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management, concurred: “According to a study conducted by Grant Thornton, a direct flight to North America would add an estimated 24,000 passengers, which would add R283m to the Cape economy. This would be provide a major boost to Cape Town in particular, creating jobs and helping grow the economy. We therefore welcome this trip by the Cape Town Air Access team and wish them success.”

South African Tourism hub head: North America, Jerry Mpufane added: “From a South African Tourism perspective, the conference presents another opportunity to cement South Africa’s reputation as a world-class tourist destination. 

“The North American market remains a key source market for South Africa and we are confident that the United Airlines flight to Cape Town will be a success. With six months to go before the inaugural United Airlines flight, we will look forward to working more closely with United Airlines as well as our partners Wesgro and Cape Town Air Access to ensure that the route becomes a successful one,” concluded Mpufane.

The first new non-stop flight between Singapore and New York departed Changi International Airport on 11 October 2018 at 2337hrs (SIN time) and arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport a day later, at 0529hrs (US Eastern time). The flight duration was 17 hours 52 minutes.

Operated by the all-new Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range), the route will initially be served thrice-weekly, departing Singapore on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Daily operations will commence from 18 October after an additional A350-900ULR aircraft enters service.

To commemorate the inaugural flight, customers departing from Singapore were treated to an evening of performances and an assortment of food and beverages at a special boarding gate event. Customers also received an exclusive goodie bag containing a commemorative certificate and a pair of SIA-branded Bodum glasses.

Customers on the world’s longest flight were treated with a comfortable and relaxing travelling experience with special Wellness Cuisines curated by chefs and nutritionists from Canyon Ranch, a leader in healthy living and wellness, in addition to SIA’s own meal selections and creations by its International Culinary Panel of chefs.

Designed with the customers’ well-being in mind, sleep strategies and specific cabin lighting settings to enhance cabin ambience for rest and relaxation were also introduced. The aircraft is designed with higher ceilings, larger windows and an extra wide body to help reduce jetlag and ensure that customers feel well rested and relaxed upon arrival.

Customers also have greater control over their in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience with myKrisWorld – a world-first IFE personalisation offering that provides content recommendations based on customer preferences and viewing history. KrisFlyer members are able to save and resume content, create playlists, and customise their preferences on myKrisWorld for subsequent flights. In addition, KrisFlyer members will have access to 200 additional hours of in-flight entertainment content. This is on top of the more than 1,000 hours of existing in-flight entertainment offerings.

Customers can also experience high-speed in-flight WiFi service on Singapore Airlines’ new A350-900ULR aircraft. Equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ new satellite modem that operates with its third generation satellite network, the service is capable of delivering higher-speed Internet to customers. Currently available on A350-900ULR aircraft in Singapore Airlines’ fleet, this service will be progressively introduced on other aircraft that are equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ Internet and mobile in-flight connectivity.

SIA is the world’s first customer for the new A350-900ULR, with seven firm orders with Airbus. The aircraft will be configured in a two-class layout, with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats.

The aircraft will also be used for new non-stop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, which are to be launched on 2 November 2018, as well as to increase services on the existing Singapore-San Francisco route. By the end of the year, SIA will have 27 non-stop flights per week between Singapore and the United States.