Gov’t To Launch National Airline

Government has intensified processes towards launching a new national airline soon.

According to aviation industry officials, processes have advanced in establishing the necessary policy framework to guide the smooth implementation of the plan.

Citi Business News also understands that there have been negotiations with some leading airline companies on best practices to get the national carrier running.

Ghana is yet to re-launch its national airline after the collapse of Ghana Airways about a decade ago.

The erstwhile NDC administration embarked on a number of activities which led to the short listing of some ten airline companies to partner the government of Ghana to establish a national carrier.

The process is yet to see any major announcement eleven months into the administration of the NPP government.

But the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), John Attafuah tells Citi Business News the indications look positive to reaching the goal soon.

“That is a policy decision for the Minister and I think the Aviation Ministry is doing all it can to ensure that we either have a home base airline or national carrier. There have been discussions with various airlines including Ethiopian Airlines and it is my hope that these can further progress to ensure that in the not too distant future we can either have a home base carrier or a national airline,”

The NPP administration has also set a plan to position Ghana as an aviation hub within the sub-region hence the completion of major infrastructural works at the airports.

The Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah in an interview with the BBC early this year has also maintained that there will be limited government interference in the management of the new national carrier to avert another unexpected collapse.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made to attract more airlines into the domestic market.

Aside from the two local airlines operating within the domestic airline space, the GCAA has since given license to Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan to operate a local airline, Baby Jet airlines.

The successful rolling out should at least bring the number of local airline companies to three.