Ghana is planning on launching three new airlines before the end of 2018.
BabyJet, Ashanti Air and Unity Air are each undergoing certification process with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and it is hoped they will be operational by December, according to Africa Business Communities. Unity Air has reportedly already delivered its aircraft and is awaiting inspection.
Considerable investment has been made into the country’s on-ground infrastructure, and domestic air services are being encouraged. ‘We are also in negotiation with the domestic airlines to begin using the idle airports at Ho and Wa,’ says Aviation Minister Joseph Adda, who adds that the Ho and Wa regional airports are ready to use, though no airlines are currently servicing them.
While Africa’s aviation sector contributes US$72.5 billion in economic activity and generates 6.8 million jobs, the continent’s share of the global tourism sector is decreasing as its share of global arrivals declined from 4.8% in 2006 to 3.3% in 2016.
GCAA director general Simon Allotey expects the new airlines to intensify competition, which will ‘lead to efficiency and good provision of services’.
