9G-AEU – Embraer ERJ-145LI – Africa World Airline
Accra – Co-Chairman of the Africa World Airlines (AWA) and Chief of Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, made a statement that AWA has submitted a proposal and held discussions with the Aviation Ministry to be designated as the country’s flag-carrier.
Designated as the national flag-carrier, AWA will be operating flights between Accra, Ghana, and countries all around the globe with which the country has a bilateral air service agreement with.
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“We submitted our proposals and had meetings with the aviation authorities, and I must credit them for their openness and desire to make it happen for Ghana – and we are happy to be part of that process.Our key partner, Hainan Airlines, is part of the HNA group. Deals done by the HNA group over an 18-month period is in excess of US$40billion, so we come with a lot of financial muscle. And, of course, technical capacity is also assured, because within the HNA group we have more than 14 airlines. So, we come in with the global connections and a worldwide network necessary for the success of a national carrier,” he told the B&FT at the launch of its maiden flight from Accra, Ghana, to Monrovia, Liberia.
“Government is seeking to establish a new national airline under a public-private-partnership (PPP) arrangement, in order to realize its vision of making Ghana an aviation hub in the West African sub-region. To this effect, the Aviation Ministry has received about 20 applications and is perusing them with government’s Economic Management Team to make a decision on the best possible partner.”
Togbe Afede XIV, however, convinces the system that AWA is ready to take on the partnership with the government, thereby giving its financial and technical capacity and the fact that government has already shared in AWA through the Social Security and National Insurance Trust.
“We are ready to partner government to establish a national-carrier. The HNA group is not just aviation, which means that we bring a lot more. HNA group has a diversified aviation sector. We have our own maintenance operations in Europe and China. So, all of that capability is brought on board; we bring a lot of strength and we are capable of making it happen immediately. But it is subject to the strategy government has in mind; whether it wants a new separate airline, or if it wants to partner us. Even if we are to start tomorrow, we are ready to get it started,” he said.
AWA in a whole is the joint venture between the Social Security National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Ghana, the Strategic African Securities, China-Africa Development Fund and Hainan Airlines of China.
For a period of ten years, it is known that Ghana Airways was the national airline with Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as its centre. However, the airline clothed in debt stopped operations in 2004. Efforts to revive it back were to no avail; and in June 2005, the airline was dissolved
The government, with support from private investors, established Ghana International Airlines (GIA). Unfortunately, the airline faced a lot of difficulties and eventually suspended operations in May 2010.
However, connectivity gaps still exist due, to a weak aviation policy environment and traffic rights restrictions, the airline industry in the West Africa sub-region is growing.
Now in 2017, AWA’s Accra-Monrovia service come online as it began the start of a direct service by Africa World Airlines (AWA) between Ghana’s capital, Accra, and Liberia’s capital and key economic hub, Monrovia, is expected to deepen trade relations between the two West African states.
Ghana and Liberia have very good diplomatic relations. As a remarkable number of Liberians live and work in Ghana, while people along Ghana’s coasts in the fishing communities have relations in coastal Monrovia.
The airline is said to operate flights on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This new service will be offered to the public on more options for travelling between the two West Africa states.
The Accra-Monrovia-Accra flights will depart Kotoka International Airport at 11:30hrs every Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, to arrive in Monrovia at 13:30hrs. The return flight will depart Monrovia at 14:10hrs to arrive in Accra at 16:10hrs.
Also speaking on the economic benefits of the new route’s opening, Monrovia’s economy is directed by its harbour, the Freeport of Monrovia. This is also the location of Liberia’s government offices. Monrovia’s harbour has significantly been expanded by U.S. forces during the Second World War, and the main exports include latex and iron ore.
Materials manufactured on-site are cement, refined petroleum, food products, bricks and tiles, furniture and chemicals. All these are located on the Bushrod Island between the mouths of the Mesurado and Saint Paul Rivers, the harbour also has facilities for storing and repairing vessels.
Given Ghana’s numerous traditional and non-traditional exports, this new service has now opened a new chapter for the intra-Africa trade in the sub-region. Thereby, presenting opportunities for both countries when it comes to issues of businesses and investments.
With reports from ACN
