Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/604020
B M & T ••• September/October 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 32 F R O M T H E M O T H E R L A N D S outh African Airways (SAA), Africa's most awarded airline, continues to expand its West African network and celebrated its inaugural flights between Washington D.C. and Accra, Ghana, on August 3, 2015. SA #209 from Accra arrived at Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport at 6:05AM and SA #210 departed at 5.40pm under a ceremonial water can- non salute. Both flights were operated with Airbus A340-600 aircraft, featuring 42 full-flat 180° beds in Premium Business Class and 275 seats in Economy Class. Celebrations at Washington Dulles Airport included local Washington, D.C.-based Ghanaian drum- mers 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. "We are proud to be the only airline flying between Washington D.C. and Ghana, and we are committed to better connecting North America to the entire African continent," said Marc Cavaliere, executive vice president Americas for South African Airways. "There is a large Ghanaian community in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area, as well as significant business trade opportunities between the two countries. We are now providing convenient world-class service in this market." "I am extremely pleased to welcome, on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, this new direct flight between Accra and Washington D.C.," said His Excellency Joseph Henry Smith, ambassador of Ghana to the United States. "I'm confident this will deep- en trade and investment between the U.S. and Ghana, while reinforcing Accra's position as a strategic West African hub." 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, oper- ating 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. SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS CELEBRATES INAUGURAL FLIGHT FROM WASHINGTON D.C. TO ACCRA, GHANA THE NEW FLIGHT SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS (all times are local): WashingtonD.C.–Accra–Johannesburg SA #210 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) SA #209 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) Depart Washington D.C – IAD: 5.40pm Depart Johannesburg, South Africa: 5.25pm Arrive Accra, Ghana: 7.40am +1 Arrive Accra, Ghana: 9.45pm Depart Accra, Ghana: 8.40am +1 Depart Accra, Ghana: 10.45pm Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa: 4.30pm +1 Arrive Washington D.C – IAD: 6.05am +1