International airlines apply to fly direct to Kumasi

Some international airlines have expressed their readiness to operate direct flights to the Kumasi International Airport. They have consequently applied to the Ghana government for permission to operate the flights.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Alhassan Tampuli, made this known at an event in Accra to mark 90 years of Air France held at the residence of the French Ambassador to Ghana, Jules Armand Aniambossou.

Reasons
Explaining, Mr Tampuli said the arlines’ decision is informed by the increasing number of passengers arriving at the Kotoka International Airport who continue to Kumasi.

Besides, he said the decision is due to infrastructure development that has raised the Kumasi airport to international standards.

Phase 2&3
Work on the Kumasi Airport Project (Phase 2 & 3) is progressing steadily and the project to date is about 93% complete. The project contractor is Messrs Contracta Construction UK Ltd.

The Phase II of the project, which began in 2018, includes the construction of a new terminal building to handle one million passengers per annum, two boarding bridges, a road network, perimeter fence, a substation and parking lot among others.

The cost of the Phase II of expansion works is estimated at £66,350,000.

Phase III of the Kumasi Airport expansion project involves the extension of the existing runway pavement from 1,981 meters to 2,320 meters, construction of new taxi link and two apron parking stands, an Air Traffic Control Building, and a Fire Station among others. The cost for this phase is estimated at £58,900,000.

The Kumasi Airport is currently served by two domestic carriers namely: Africa World Airlines (AWA) and PassionAir.

Ongoing works
Mr Tampuli said the government is expediting ongoing works at Kumasi International Airport to ensure it is ready to accommodate the airlines when their applications are approved. “Our work on aviation infrastructure is not only targeted at the Kumasi Airport, but all the regional facilities as well as Kotoka International Airport,” he stated .

Mr Tampuli noted that the government is committed to making Ghana the aviation hub in the sub region.
Currently, he said applications have been received from airlines in Spain  and Italy  to fly directly to Accra.

Passenger comfort
The Deputy Minister of Transport said measures are being taken to reduce the time passengers spent during departure and arrivals at the Kotota International Airport. “We have digitized the process that will no longer require passengers to fill a form when travelling from our airports and arriving in Ghana,” the Minister disclosed.
He added: “In all, we had about 13 different steps, which have now been reduced four steps to reduce the stress passengers go through before travels. We have done away with filling of forms before travel and arriving in Ghana via our airports.”

For his part
Speaking at the same programme the French Ambassador highlighted the close relationship between Ghana and France over the years and the role Air France has played in that direction.

He also announced that Air France will be undertaking three times a week direct flights to Accra.