United Airlines, a North American based airline, and Airlink, a South African airline, have confirmed a new codeshare agreement that will offer customers more connections between the United States of America and southern Africa than any other airline alliance.
The new agreement, which is subject to government approval, will offer one-stop connections from the US to more than 40 destinations in southern Africa.
Additionally, United will be the first airline to connect its loyalty program with Airlink, allowing MileagePlus members to earn and redeem miles when they travel on Airlink flights.
This new cooperation will be in addition to United’s existing partnership with Star Alliance member South African Airways.
“United continues to demonstrate our commitment to Africa, starting 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 Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.”
United has continued to expand its footprint into Africa, with direct service to four African destinations.
Earlier this month, United announced flights between Washington DC and Lagos Nigeria will begin 29 November, subject to government approval.
Earlier this year, United 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 1 December.
“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,” said Airlink CEO and managing director Rodger Foster.
“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.”
This new codeshare will be implemented upon final government approvals.
United stated it is committed to putting health and safety at the forefront of every customer’s journey to deliver an industry-leading standard of cleanliness through its United CleanPlus SM program.
For this, United has teamed up with Clorox and Cleveland Clinic to redefine cleaning and health safety procedures from check-in to landing and has implemented more than a dozen new policies, protocols and innovations designed with the safety of customers and employees in mind.
To manage entry requirements in different destinations and find places to get tests, customers can visit United’s Travel Ready Center.