Africa World finalizing launch plans for ERJ-145 domestic operation

Ghana's GH-Wings eyeing B737s for Euro ops

One-day strike cost to Ghana airlines

Ghana’s two main domestic airlines Africa World Airlines (AW, Accra) and PassionAir (OP, Accra) have lost an estimated GHS330,000 cedi (USD60,0000) in revenue because of a recent one-day strike by Ghana Air Navigation Services employees, reports GhanaWeb.

Both airlines were forced to temporarily suspend flights on October 14, 2020, on routes from Accra to Kumasi and Tamale after ANS employees downed tools for 24 hours. A total of two flights to Tamale and four to Kumasi were affected. Normal schedules were restored on October 15, 2020, both airlines confirmed.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority Workers Union said the strike was called to draw the attention of the Ministry of Aviation, the Lands Commission, and the Presidency to the redevelopment of land and resulting threats to aviation installations at the La Wireless Station Aviation Training School in Accra. The resulting damage to underground cables affecting ground-based flight signals was a major concern, the union said.

The land in contention was leased by Ghana’s traditional leaders known as La Traditional Council to...

Nigeria cherry-picks airlines

Nigeria has granted daily traffic rights to British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Turkish Airlines, while continuing to ban other European carriers over reciprocal visa issues.

From October 2, British Airways and Turkish Airlines, along with Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir, ASKY Airlines, and Air Côte d'Ivoire have approval to operate daily flights to Lagos and Abuja, according to the latest flight schedule update from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Africa World Airlines has approval to operate twice-daily flights to Lagos and daily ones to Abuja; while Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Kenya Airways may now fly daily to Lagos, according to the approval signed by NCAA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Captain Musa Nuhu.

Meanwhile, the West African country continues to blacklist Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines over travel restrictions imposed on Nigerian tourist visa holders by the European Union. This despite a meeting between Nigeria’s Aviation Ministry and EU ministers last month when...

Liberian gov't inks MOU for Lone Star Air

The Government of Liberia has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Ghanaian start-up Goldstar Airlines (Accra) over the proposed establishment of a new Liberian national airline.

An official statement did not reveal the exact shareholder breakdown of Lone Star Air (Monrovia Roberts) let alone a potential launch date. However, it did confirm that Lone Star Air would serve 11 West African cities from its Monrovia Roberts base namely Accra, Abuja, Lagos, Abidjan, Freetown, Banjul, Conakry, Dakar Blaise Diagne International, Ouagadougou, Bissau, and São Tome. Eric Bannerman, the Chairman/CEO of Goldstar Air, has confirmed to ch-aviation that operations will be onboard EMB-145LRs.

Liberian transport minister, Samuel Wlue, signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Government of Liberia with Bannerman signing for the Ghanaian start-up.

Liberia does currently have any scheduled airlines of its own with all of its regional international connectivity provided by the likes of ASKY Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Air Côte d'Ivoire,...