US airline joins Ghana route

Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - Delta Airlines, a leading US carrier, on Monday joined the Ghanaian airline industry announcing a four times a week non-stop flight from New York to Accra. The airline would make it debut trip from New York to Accra on Monday with its Boeing 767-300 ER flight expected to land at about 0500 GMT.

Launching the airline's entry into the country, Mr Frank Jahangir, Vice President, Sales and Affairs Europe, Middle East and Africa, said the airline's presence in Ghana formed part of their integral strategy for the Africa market.

Mr Jahangir underlining Delta's package for Ghana said four weekly services to destinations throughout the US would be provided with new mileage earning opportunities.

"Delta will operate new service with a Boeing 767-300ER, aircraft configured to carry 214 passengers with 35 seats in business elite." He said the fare would be 749 dollars for economy and 2,500 dollars for business class while there was provision of strong cargo opportunities.

Mr Jahangir said with Delta's 16 billion dollar revenue turnover, a fleet of 475 mainline aircraft, 50,000 employees, 4,000 daily flights and 728 destinations worldwide, the airline would whip up competition in the Ghana airline business.

He noted that Delta being the fastest growing US carrier to Latin America/Caribbean, the airline was positioned to provide flight access to the over one million Ghanaians leaving in the US. Mr Jahangir stated that the global expansion initiative of the airline underpinned its growth.

Mr Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director, Ghana Tourist Board, said Delta's entry into the Ghanaian market was timely due to the heavy traffic.

He noted that Delta would trigger competition in the airline industry being one of the biggest airline companies in the world and this was healthy for the airline business.

Mr Mireku implored the Airline to support the promotional drives of the Board as a strategy to promoting Ghana to the outside world and rope in more investment.