United to end Washington – Dakar service in March 2026
United Airlines will end its Washington Dulles – Dakar service on 4 March 2026, less than a year after its May 2025 launch. The year‑round, three‑weekly Boeing 767‑300 route’s withdrawal leaves Delta Air Lines as the only North American carrier with non‑stop service to Senegal’s capital.
The move highlights challenges for secondary US – West Africa routes amid variable demand and strong one‑stop competition. Sabre data show 124,285 US – Senegal passengers in 2024, with only 31 per cent travelling non‑stop; New York – Dakar carried about 53,800 passengers and Washington – Dakar around 13,600. Air Transat plans Montreal – Dakar flights from June 2026, while United will retain African services to Cape Town, Accra, Johannesburg and Lagos.
Source: TravelNews.Africa