Coronavirus: Airlines face anxious wait for border opening

International airlines operating in the country will have to wait much longer to restart their operations, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has by Executive Instrument extended the closure of all borders–land, sea, and air–indefinitely.

This also means that individuals and families are unable to travel in or out of the country by scheduled commercial flights.

“Our border, by air, land and sea, remains closed until further notice for human traffic. However, given that there are Ghana residents stranded abroad, special dispensation is going to be given for their evacuation back to Ghana, where they will be subjected to the mandatory quarantine and safety protocols,” President Akufo-Addo said in his 10th update to Ghana’s enhanced response to the coronavirus pandemic.

With Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), which is used for all international flights, closed to traffic—except for pre-approved evacuations—and with aircraft parked in hangars and airline offices vacated, international airlines have been counting their losses.

Collectively, international airlines have lost an estimated US$400m in potential earnings since the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of the country’s air, land and sea borders on March 22.

While it remains uncertain when the airport will be re-opened for scheduled passenger services, airlines have had to rework their models as specific segments of the market are lost.

Corporate organisations that have long-standing contracts with airlines are now resorting to video conferencing to hold their meetings and discouraging staff travels.