Ghana Hopes To Launch Its New National Carrier “GhanaAirlines” Next Year
Earlier this week, the Ghana Government announced it was planning to launch a new national airline called GhanaAirlines. It will be based at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport (ACC), and it will start flying in 2023. Ken Ofori-Atta, the country’s Finance Minister, announced it in Parliament last week, saying,
GhanaAirlines is expected to be operationalized in 2023 after shareholders and partnership agreements were signed with the selected strategic partner.
Ashanti Airlines is the strategic partner referred to by Ofoti-Atta in this case. In 2018, Ashanti Airlines commenced operations and is currently obtaining an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). GhanaAirlines will be established in collaboration with the new carrier.
There have been discussions between GhanaAirlines and both Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir, but they appear to have fallen through. No further details have been released regarding GhanaAirlines’ potential routes, aircraft orders, or a start date
After 12 years without a flag carrier for Ghana, the country now has one
As a result of the collapse of Ghana Airways in 2004 and then Ghana International Airlines in 2010, the African nation has had no flag carrier. In Ghana, Africa World Airlines is currently the largest carrier, accounting for over 65% of domestic traffic last year. Passion Air follows with five Dash 8s.
Before the pandemic, GhanaAirlines saw up to three million passengers a year at Kotoka International Airport, the country’s largest airport. For the past three years, Airports Council International has awarded the airport the title of “Best Airport in Africa.”
GhanaAirlines will face what kind of competition?
An ever-growing number of airlines currently offer routes from Accra, so any new airline looking to establish itself in the West African market will face significant competition.
In addition to Lagos, Abidjan, and Banjul, the airport is also well connected to major cities in the region. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines offer transatlantic services to Washington Dulles International Airport, and New York JFK, respectively
British Airways operates flights from Accra to London Heathrow, Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, and Emirates to Dubai.
Additionally, Kenya Airways operates a range of fifth-freedom flights from Accra to Monrovia and Freetown, and plans to begin Dakar services later this month. As a result of these routes, operated by an established airline, any startup airline based at Kotoka International Airport will face significant competition.
vince salvador
February 23rd, 2023
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