Bad weather reduces domestic flights patronage

The severe harmattan condition and its accompanying poor visibility has drastically affected domestic flights patronage, resulting in 75 percent reduction in the number of passengers.

Mr Eric Antwi, Chief Executive Officer of Starbow, told the Ghana News Agency, on Thursday, that poor visibility prevented movements of the company’s commercial aircrafts from December 3, last year to January 5, this year, following advice from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

Starbow, which operates domestic flights from Accra to Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale three times a day halted movements of its aircrafts to those locations for the sake of safety and health of clients.

Mr Antwi said the company resumed full commercial flights to its destinations on January 6 after almost a month break.

He suggested that the government should acquire aviation equipment and install them at the local airports to facilitate reading of the weather so that domestic airline operators could take precautionary measures.

Madam Herty Hammond, Station Supervisor of Starbow at the Takoradi Terminal, said 65 passengers are on board each flight.

Touching on fares for the various domestic flights, she said it ranges from GH¢310 and GH¢ 365, while prospective travellers who purchase their tickets a week earlier enjoy reduced rate.