United Airlines and Airlink announced a new codeshare agreement to offer customers more connections between the US and Southern Africa than any other airline partnership. The new agreement, which is subject to government approval, will offer one stop connections from the US to 45 destinations in Southern Africa. Additionally, United will be the first airline to combine its loyalty program with Airlink, allowing MileagePlus members to earn and redeem miles when they travel on Airlink’s flights.
“United continues to demonstrate our commitment to Africa, beginning three brand new flights to the continent this year alone including new service to Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances at United. “And now through our codeshare agreement with Airlink – which is the most expansive partnership in Southern Africa – customers will be able to easily explore more bucket list destinations across the continent including easy connections to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.”
In early September, United announced flights between Washington, DC. and Lagos Nigeria which will take flight on November 29. United also launched a new service between New York/Newark and Johannesburg, South Africa and between Washington, DC and Accra, Ghana, which is expected to operate daily this December and January. United’s popular service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa will also resume on December 1.
“North America is an important source market for our destinations. This codeshare will make it easy for our North American customers to reach the Okavango Delta, Chobe, the Kruger National Park and adjacent private game lodges, Cape Town, the Garden Route, Swakopmund and the Copperbelt, among others. Similarly, the codeshare means that our customers in the 12 African countries we currently serve, will have fast and seamless access to all of United’s network,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.
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