Accra (Greater Accra) 25 May '99
The Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, Mr Andrew Young, has urged Ghana Airways to include Atlanta in its planned flight operations to other US cities.
He said Atlanta Airport being one of the biggest and busiest in the US could be linked directly with Kotoka International Airport through Ghana Airways.
Mr Young said this at the weekend at the commissioning of the refurbished "Nyante-Yie" transit lounge at the Kotoka International Airport by Ghana Airways for its first class and business class passengers.
He said there are about 2,500 flights to and from Atlanta a year bringing in revenue of about 10 billion dollars and could be a gateway for US investors to Ghana.
Mr Young said Ghana Airways could take advantage of the 73.5 million passenger a year through Atlanta to extend its operations to the city adding that this could bring tourists, conventions and conferences to Accra.
Mr Andrew Young who was in the country to attend the fifth African-African American summit said nothing leads to the development of a country faster than an airport citing the example of Atlanta.
Mr Emmanuel Quartey, Chief Executive of Ghana Airways, praised Mr Young for the role he played in bringing peace to most African countries during his tenure of office as US Ambassador to United Nations.
He said with Mr Young's experience in the airline business, especially as a board member of Delta Airlines, Ghana Airways could capitalise on their relations with him to link up the two airlines to co-operate in their operations.
Mr Quartey noted that Ghana Airways is already co-operating with South Africa and Ethiopia Airlines as part of its expansion drive and in line with government's gate way programme of making Kotoka International Airport a hub in the sub-region.
GRi./
