By Three US cities now have nonstop flights to Accra, and for this Christmas season all three will be running. Delta flies daily from New York JFK all year round and brings back its seasonal Atlanta service in December, while United flies five times a week from Washington Dulles. Everybody else connects, either through those three gateways or through Europe or elsewhere in Africa.
Nonstop flights from the US to Accra
New York JFK — Delta DL156, daily, all year, about 10 hours
Washington Dulles — United UA996, five times a week, about 10 hours
Atlanta — Delta DL178, daily in the winter season, listed to resume December 19, 2026, about 10 hours 20 minutes
The three nonstop routes
| From | Airline | Frequency | Aircraft | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (JFK) | Delta, DL156 | Daily, year-round | Airbus A330-900neo | About 9h 30m to 10h 25m |
| Washington (IAD) | United, UA996 | 5 a week (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat in the current schedule) | Boeing 787-8 | About 9h 40m to 10h 25m |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta, DL178 | Daily in winter; listed from December 19, 2026 | Airbus A330-900neo | About 10h 15m to 10h 25m |
Schedules from published airline timetables as listed on FlightsFrom, checked October 20, 2026. Frequencies and dates can change; confirm with the airline before you book.
The JFK flight is the workhorse of the Ghana diaspora. Delta has flown it nonstop for years and has described it as one of its best-performing African routes, which is why it added the Atlanta service as a winter extra from December 2025. The Atlanta flight matters to the large Ghanaian communities in Georgia, Texas and the Southeast, who used to have to go up to New York first. United’s Dulles flight, on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is the natural choice for Maryland, Virginia and DC, and it connects to United’s network across the Midwest and West.
Flying from other US cities
If you live in Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis or anywhere without a nonstop, you have two choices. The first is a domestic connection to one of the three gateways: Delta through JFK or Atlanta, United through Dulles. That keeps you on one ticket, your bags are checked through, and you are in Accra the next morning.
The second is to cross the Atlantic first and connect in Europe or Africa. KLM through Amsterdam, British Airways through London, Brussels Airlines through Brussels, TAP through Lisbon and Turkish Airlines through Istanbul all serve Accra, as do Ethiopian through Addis Ababa and Royal Air Maroc through Casablanca. These routings are often cheaper in the December peak, when the nonstop flights sell out and the fares climb, but they add several hours to the journey. Remember that a connection through London means a stop in the UK, so check whether you need a transit visa or an electronic travel authorisation for the country you are passing through.
When to book, and the December problem
Everybody wants to be home for Christmas, and the airlines know it. From the second week of December to the first week of January, demand from the diaspora and from visitors coming for the festivals is at its highest, the nonstops fill up, and fares go up with them. If you are travelling for Christmas, book as early as you can, and if the nonstop fares have already climbed, price the connecting routes through Europe or Casablanca as well; they are often the better value at that time of year.
The quieter months are a different story. Fare data on the Dulles route, for instance, shows October as the cheapest month for round trips. If your trip is flexible, travelling outside December and the Easter and summer school holidays will save you a lot of money, and you will find Accra far less congested.
Before you fly
You need a Ghana visa, and if you are going through the Embassy it can take three weeks plus postage, so sort it out before you buy a non-refundable ticket. The alternative is the e-visa, which is quicker but costs more; we compare both in our guide to the Ghana visa for US citizens. You also need your yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is checked when you land, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Ghanaians travelling on a US passport without dual citizenship or a Ghana Card also need a visa; airlines will deny boarding if you cannot show one.
Arriving at Kotoka
International flights use Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. After you land, you go through the health desk, where your yellow fever card is checked, then immigration and customs. Uber and Bolt both operate in Accra and are usually cheaper than the airport taxis, though at busy times the pickup can take a while. If you are being picked up, give your people the flight number so they can track the actual landing time.
Change only a small amount of money at the airport. You will get a better rate at a licensed forex bureau in town, and our dollar to cedi rate today page shows what the bureaus and the Bank of Ghana are quoting.
Is there a direct flight from the US to Ghana?
Yes. Delta flies nonstop from New York JFK every day and from Atlanta daily during the winter season, and United flies nonstop from Washington Dulles five times a week.
How long is the flight to Ghana from the US?
About ten hours nonstop from New York, Washington or Atlanta. A connection adds several hours, depending on the routing and the layover.
Which airport in Ghana do flights from the US land at?
Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, at Terminal 3, which handles international flights.
What is the cheapest way to fly to Ghana from the US?
Travel outside December and the school holidays, compare the nonstops with the one-stop routings through Europe, Casablanca or Addis Ababa, and book early for peak dates. A connecting itinerary is often cheaper than a nonstop in December, at the cost of a longer journey.
Sources: airline timetables as listed on FlightsFrom (JFK, IAD and ATL to ACC), checked October 20, 2026; The Points Guy on Delta’s Atlanta–Accra launch, February 28, 2025. Schedules change; confirm with the airline before booking. Last updated Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
