Ghana, Mexico negotiating direct flight arrangement

Ghana and the Republic of Mexico have discussed a strategy that will allow a direct flight arrangement to and from both countries.

This came to light during a courtesy call by the Mexican Ambassador Maria de los Angeles Arriola Aguirre, on the Aviation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, on Wednesday.

The Ambassador asked that both countries start preparations to give way for the direct flight to happen, in the light of expansions of infrastructure in the aviation industry.

In 2017, Mexico began constructing an international airport with the capacity of 95 million visitors per year, at a cost of about US$ 13 billion. This is expected to be completed in 2021.

Ghana’s new Terminal 3, at the Kotoka international airport (KIA) has the capacity of handling five million passengers a year, with an expansion potential of up to 6.5 million, at an estimated US$ 274 million.

The Ambassador asked that airline companies could be brought on board in the initial stages of preparations.

In response, Dapaah assured that Ghana would sign a bilateral air service agreement with Mexico in readiness of the direct flight, as well as involve airlines to fix this plan in their programmes.

“We will work at the process to ensure that it happens.”

Currently, passengers from Ghana to Mexico, have to transit through the United States or any other country with direct flights to Mexico.

The Mexican Ambassador hinted at other areas of collaboration, announcing that Ghana will soon receive the first visit from Mexico, of experts, to collaborate with government in the technical areas on two major projects.

One focuses on agriculture, specifically in the processes of flour production.

The technical team will visit the University of Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, to train them on how to process corn flour to avoid aflatoxin in maize.

Abena Dapaah also disclosed that President Akufo-Addo will, next week, be cutting the sod for a new terminal at the Kumasi airport.