South African Airways marks 10 years of service to Washington Dulles International Airport this month. Over the past decade, the carrier has transported nearly 1.5 million passengers between Washington, D.C., and destinations across Africa. Service began as a four-times-weekly route to Johannesburg International Airport and quickly expanded to daily flights, reflecting strong demand on this transcontinental connection.
In 2006, South African Airways added Dakar’s Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Senegal to the schedule, creating a convenient link from the United States to West Africa and maintaining daily service that connected passengers onward to Johannesburg. That routing strengthened SAA’s role as a key bridge between the U.S. and multiple African regions.
“Our Washington route is one of the reasons why South African Airways is the predominant airline from the U.S. to Africa today,” said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president, the Americas, South African Airways. “Passengers traveling between Dulles International Airport and Africa deserve award-winning service and convenient schedules, and we are proud to have been serving them for 10 years. We look forward to welcoming more and more customers on board and offering them our unique blend of African hospitality.”
Building on its decade of service to the U.S. capital, SAA will introduce a new non-stop route between Washington, D.C. and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport beginning next month. The four-times-weekly service, launching on Aug. 3, expands travel options for passengers between the United States and Ghana, further extending SAA’s network across West Africa.
Over ten years, the Washington link has become an important corridor for business travelers, tourists, and the African diaspora, providing steady connectivity and schedule choices. With the addition of Accra, South African Airways continues to adapt its network to meet passenger demand and strengthen ties between the United States and multiple African markets.
The airline’s decade-long presence at Dulles highlights its commitment to reliable service and regional accessibility. By maintaining competitive frequencies, updating route options, and emphasizing customer experience, SAA aims to remain a leading carrier on U.S.–Africa routes and to attract travelers seeking direct connections and seamless onward travel across the continent.