Ghana Airlines will begin operations as the country’s national carrier this year after the government awarded a tender to Ashanti Airlines and its operational and financial partner Zotus Group.
Ghana Airlines will start operations this year as the country’s national carrier after the government awarded Ashanti Airlines and its operational and financial partner Zotus Group a tender to commence business.
“The time has come to return Ghana to the aviation map,” the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah said in a statement issued by Zotus Group. “Learning from past experiences and following best practices within the aviation industry, it is best to collaborate with the private sector.”
The Ashanti Group was chosen from among other bidders in a competitive process, and the strategic partnership was approved by the cabinet on February 24, 2022.
Ghana Airlines will be funded by the Zotus Group and will begin operations with flights to several domestic and regional destinations, as well as global and European destinations. The airline also plans to operate flights to London Heathrow and New York.
Zotus Group co-founder, Emile Heskey commented on preparations to source aircraft for the airline’s operations “with a significant focus on cargo and passenger manifest from the British Government”, according to a report by AeroTime.
“We anticipate a successful business model from the start with this support,” Heskey added.
Ghana Airlines’ long-haul fleet could include Boeing 787 Dreamliners as well as Dash 8-400 aircraft for regional and domestic flights.
At the Dubai Airshow in November 2019, the Ghanaian government signed a provisional order for three Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Ghana’s airspace has been devoid of a national airline for 13 years, following the demise of former national carriers Ghana Airways in 2004, and Ghana International Airlines six years later in 2010.
The new national airline has already obtained an Air Carrier License (ACL) and is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
