Spanish and Italian Airlines Seek Direct Flights to Accra by Summer 2024

Numerous Spanish and Italian airlines have submitted applications for direct flight operations to Accra, with plans to commence these services by the summer of 2024. The Deputy Minister of Transport shared this news during an interview with JoyBusiness following an event in Accra celebrating Air France’s 90 years of global operations.

The Deputy Minister of Transport revealed that the government is currently in the process of reviewing these applications and will soon make a decision regarding the next steps.

More details will be disclosed once the government completes its review, according to the Deputy Minister of Transport.

Motivation for This Keen Interest in Ghana

The Deputy Minister of Transport emphasized that the increasing interest in providing direct flights to Ghana is partly due to the rising demand from travelers seeking to journey to Accra from various destinations around the world.

The nation has gained substantial appeal for several airlines because of various developments within the country.

The Deputy Minister mentioned initiatives such as the Year of Return Programme and the growing investor interest in Ghana as contributing factors to this heightened interest among airlines.

The Deputy Minister also pointed out the surge in airlines increasing their schedules and frequencies, which he believes can be attributed to favorable government policies.

“Ethiopian Airlines is planning to raise its weekly flight frequency to 10, while British Airways is expected to introduce new scheduled flights on the Accra-Gatwick Route in addition to the existing Accra–Heathrow service,” the Minister further revealed.

Mr. Tampuli added that the government is resolute in its commitment to enhance aviation infrastructure, aiming to transform Accra into a hub for regional airline operations.

Status of the Proposed National Carrier for Ghana

Deputy Minister of Transport Alhassan Tampuli also disclosed that significant progress has been made in the establishment of Ghana’s proposed National Carrier.

“The government has entered into an agreement with a private group, signing a shareholding agreement with them, and a new company has been incorporated for this new National Carrier,” he said.

The Deputy Minister added that they are currently awaiting the specifications of the aircraft to be used, which will be inspected by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority before the final license is issued.

While he did not specify a timeline for the airline’s launch, he did mention that there are still some necessary due diligence steps that need to be undertaken.