South African Airways celebrates the inaugural flight from Washington Dulles to Accra, Ghana

South African Airways (SAA) (Johannesburg) continues to expand its West African network and celebrated its inaugural flight between Washington (Dulles) and Accra, Ghana, on August 3, 2015.

Flight SA 209 from Accra arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:05 AM and flight SA 210 departed at 5.40 pm under a ceremonial water cannon salute (above).

Both flights were operated with Airbus A340-600 aircraft, featuring 42 full-flat 180 degree beds in Premium Business Class and 275 seats in Economy Class.

Celebrations at Washington Dulles Airport included local Washington, D.C.-based Ghanaian drummers and dancers, who performed at the boarding gate for SAA’s first passengers departing to Accra and representatives from the Ghanaian Embassy, the South African Embassy, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Destination D.C.

With the introduction of this new flight, SAA is providing the only nonstop flight between Washington D.C. and Ghana, as well as the only Skytrax 4-Star rated airline service and world-class quality from North America to the entire West Africa region. South African Airways also offers convenient connections from over 50 markets in the U.S. and Canada through its airline partners United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines and Virgin America via Washington, D.C.-Dulles.

South African Airways’ flights to Accra are available four days a week with continuing service to Johannesburg, South Africa, operating on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. SAA also provides nonstop service from Washington D.C.-Dulles to Dakar, Senegal and onwards to Johannesburg, three-times per week, operating on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

This new route is part of South African Airways’ continued expansion in North America, where the airline is the only carrier to offer daily nonstop service from New York -JFK International Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa.