10 Airlines Land In Ghana

Based on Ghana's airspace safety ratings, 10 airline operators are expected to commence operation by next year.

The airlines, which are made up of five foreign operators and five domestic companies, have expressed interest in operating in the country as a result of the development of Ghana's civil aviation, according to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Currently, Air Namibia has started operations in Ghana while United Airlines of the United States of America would commence business in May next year.

Virgin Atlantic would also begin flying from Heathrow to Accra in June 2010; with Delta Airlines proposing to open a new route between Ghana's capital, Accra and Atlanta, U.S  by the end of March next year.

Another airline, Atlantic Eagle would also begin inter-continental operations from Ghana by next year.

On the domestic front, five airline operators that are currently undergoing certification are expected to start operations soon.

The airlines include Air Ghana, Gian Air and BF Jet, which would operate executive charter flights while Fly 540 and Star JET is considering regional operations if given the approval.

Air Cdre Kwame Mamphey, Director-General of GCAA, who disclosed this yesterday at a ceremony in Accra to mark the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Day, said the development would improve the tourism revenue for the country and strengthen the economy.

The 65th ICAO day, which is on the theme, “65 years of empowering the global community through aviation,” was organized simultaneously in 190 member countries across the world.  

Air Cdre Mamphey mentioned that his outfit had put in place structures to promote and encourage general aviation and recreation flying in Ghana.

He said, “Ghana has over the years carefully implemented all key international requirements and standards on civil aviation security and safety.

“It is no surprise that our airspace is considered one of the safest in the world.”

Dzifa Aku Attivor, the Deputy Minister of Transport, stated that 50 percent of the country's total exports come into the country by air while over 70 percent of international tourists come to Ghana by air.

“With tourism fast emerging as the fast growing sector of the economy, the role of air transport cannot be over emphasized,” she added.

She observed that the global direction in air transport navigation was to switch completely to satellite-based navigation through GPS system, explaining that plans were far advanced to transform Ghana's aviation sector.

According to her, a performance-based navigation task force had been set up to move the country's aviation towards the new global civil aviation order “in the shortest possible time”

It is expected that the completion of the development projects at the Kotoka International Airport would make Ghana an air transport hub and investment gateway to West Africa.