Airlines operating flights to and from Accra, Ghana are changing their aircraft in response to increased capacity on the route, demand by passengers for enhanced comfort and improved on-board services, starting a healthy competition that will benefit consumers.
Given the capacity of these aircraft, airlines would have to be creative and intensify their marketing efforts. This will see announcement of very competitive prices from Accra to various destinations around the world for the benefit of passengers.
Addis-Ababa based Ethiopian Airlines on November 14, 2017, deployed an Airbus A350 to serve the Accra route.
Mrs. Genet Michael the Area Manager in Ghana told the B&FT during the maiden flight of the A350 to Accra that: “We expect Ghanaians to reciprocate the good feature from ET by further Supporting our Airline.
The change in equipment highlights the company’s strong commitment to acquire the latest technologies that provides its most cherished clients with extra comfort, extra entertainment and extra convenience.”
The airline, at the launch, announced discounted fares to Dubai and one additional extra bag allowance for both economy and business class valid till November 31, 2017.
Turkish Airlines, which flies to more than 290 destinations around the world via its hub in Istanbul, is also to start operating the spacious and more comfortable wide-bodied Airbus A330 on the Accra-Istanbul route starting December 1, 2017.
Ferhat Yerli, General Manager, Turkish Airlines, told the B&FT that the airline has grown its capacity by 75 percent over the last decade, and intends to increase that capacity growth from 75 to 85 percent by December when it deploys the A330.
“We are very happy here in Ghana. We started our operations in 2010 and we are happy with the Ghanaian market. The passengers are happy as well. We keep recording a growth in percentage. First it was 60, then 70 then 75%. We increase every year and our passengers also keep increasing every year.
The Airbus A330 will benefit Ghanaian passengers given the spacious nature and the enhanced services on board.”
Delta Air Lines will from next summer operate Boeing 767-400ER aircraft with 245 seats on the Accra-New York-JFK route, while British Airways has deployed a Boeing 747-400 Trans-Atlantic on the Accra-London route.
Pan-African airline, Asky Airlines, for its Accra-Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia service, now operates the Boeing 737-700 starting November 3, 2017.
“This is a direct flight between the four cities that will offer the travelling public more options and the ease of flying between the three West African cities on a safe and comfortable airline,” he said shortly after the inaugural flight, which was 85 percent full, touched down at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.
