United will offer year-round daily services New York (Newark) to Johannesburg from the northern hemisphere Spring season in 2021 (which commences March 2021).
In other news, the airline is putting its money on Cape Town, saying it will reintroduce its seasonal direct non-stop New York - Cape Town services, commencing December 11, for the second year running.
South African travellers to the US might find the route convenient. A media release from United says Newark Liberty International Airport, 14 miles from Manhattan, offers the fastest surface transfer journeys to many parts of the city, including the AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan, with a journey time of less than 30 minutes.
United plans to use the Boeing787-9 Dreamliner on both routes.
The routes are subject to government approval.
From an inbound perspective, ceo of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa told Travel News this morning (September 10) that the airline’s decision made it clear there was demand for travel to resume to ‘Destination South Africa’ and a definitive indication that South Africa should open its borders and welcome back tourism.
The airline says by late Spring 2021, it will also introduce new services Washington - Accra and Washington - Lagos.
Health and safety
Health and hygiene issues will be top of mind for most air passengers for the next few years. “United is committed to putting health and safety at the forefront of every customer's journey, with the goal of delivering an industry-leading standard of cleanliness through its United CleanPlus programme,” said Patrick Quayle, United's vp International Network and Alliances.
Cleaning and health safety procedures, from check-in to landing, and new policies, protocols and innovations designed with the safety of customers and employees in mind include:
- Requiring all travellers – including crew members – to wear face coverings.
- Using HEPA filters – while airborne and during the entire boarding and deplaning process – to circulate air and remove up to 99,97% of airborne particles.
- Using electrostatic spraying before departure for enhanced cabin sanitation.
- Using ultraviolet lighting technology on pilot flight decks to further disinfect the aircraft interior.
- During check-in, requiring customers to acknowledge they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.
- Offering customers a touchless baggage check-in experience.
- Boarding fewer customers at a time, from the back to the front of the aircraft, to allow for more social distancing.
United is represented in South Africa by Development Promotions.