As the home based carrier set to commence operations by April, 2019, Deputy Aviation Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has disclosed the routes that the new carrier would be operating.
Speaking at a press soirée organized by the Aviation Ministry on Wednesday in Accra, Darko-Mensah revealed that, the carrier would be doing some West Africa routes to Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria, as well as Senegal and The Gambia It will also fly to London and some other European routes.
The Deputy Minister said, “as part of the feasibility study for the project, we identified the route we want to go and in line with the negotiations with our main strategic partner, Ethiopian Airlines, we have confirmed with them the routes. The only process outstanding is to sign the final agreement.”
The full list of operational routes is set to be realized once the final agreement with the strategic partner is signed, he stated.
Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA)
Without the BASAs, the yet to be unveiled carrier will not be able to operate to any other country in the world. However, Ghana has so far signed more than 65 BASAs with countries around the world.
This allows designated airlines of the two counterparty states to operate commercial flights covering the transport of passengers and cargoes between the two countries.
Last year, government through the ministry of Aviation signed various aviation-related deals with Canada, Rwanda, Seychelles, Jamaica, Namibia and Guyana as it seeks to open more air routes and create opportunities for investment, trade, and tourism. Mexico have also begun processes to have a BASA with Ghana.
The Agreements with these countries will further position Ghana as the aviation hub of the West Africa sub-region as envisaged by the government as well as maximizing the huge investment in on-ground aviation infrastructure.
By Joshua W. Amlanu