Interest in air charter services surges

There is growing interest in providing commercial air charter services in the country, as more applications have been received by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the industry regulator.

Abdulai Alhassan, the acting Director-General of the GCAA, told the B&FT that “companies have applied to operate air charter services and are still going through the process”.

He added that “the regulations require us to take them through their business plan, and then we will do due diligence on them”.

He was speaking to the B&FT at the presentation of an Air Carrier Licence (ACL) to a new charter service operator, Unicorn Charter Services.

Unicorn Charter Services -- a subsidiary of UHI Holdings -- is currently working on obtaining its Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) to enable it to commence operations.

According to its Chief Executive Officer, George Afful, the company will offer services to the business community and the general public, including sports charter and medical evacuation services. There are about 18 tour operators and air charter companies that have licence to arrange and offer charter services respectively.

Leading international and domestic airlines in the country have also offered chartered services for prominent dignitaries to and from West-coast destinations.

Africa World Airlines (AWA) offered chartered services to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from Accra to Sierra Leone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma when he was re-elected to another term in office two years ago.

The airline also provided chartered services to the Canadian Governor General David Lloyd Johnston and his wife during a visit to the country.

Charter services are used by business executives, celebrities and important dignitaries worldwide whenever they have to travel at very short notice or make it to a business meeting within the shortest possible time.

Charter services provide security and absolute confidentiality to all who can afford it. Most have private terminal access -- no queues, no delays -- and passengers can also board the aircraft minutes before take-off.

Mr. Alhassan said government’s agenda is to promote the aviation industry, which is why the regulator has opened up the process for more operators to enter the industry.