Five years after it suspended Houston-Lagos operations, United Airlines inaugurated flights between Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) on Monday.
”This new flight from Lagos reinforces our ongoing commitment to growing our network in Africa and providing more convenient service to the destinations our customers want to fly to most,” said United Airlines’ Senior Vice President for International Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle.
The American airline will be flying a Boeing 787-8, Dreamliner aircraft, featuring United’s award-winning United Polaris business class cabin and United Premium Plus premium economy seats. The route is expected to provide its service three times a week after its inaugural flight arrived in Lagos on Wednesday, November 30.
“Today’s event lay credence and indeed is a testament to the recognition of the dynamic relation between Nigeria and the United States of America,” said Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr Uzoma Emenike, as she flagged off the inaugural flight. “Our partnership is a strategic one. Obviously, Tourism is in that mix as today’s event captures and reflects that.”
“This highly anticipated service will provide a key gateway between Lagos and Washington D.C., as well as easy one-stop connections to almost 80 destinations across the Americas, including Houston and Chicago,” concurred Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria.
The airlines halted its service after facing challenges in repatriating its revenue at the peak of Nigeria’s economic recession in 2016. The airline used to fly the Houston-Lagos route five times weekly.
