Malabo-based Cronos Airline is set to start operations in the country on Friday.

The airline is expected to operate twice-weekly flights on Fridays and Mondays between the Equatorial Guinean capital and Accra, Ghana.

The airline, which is likely to use a 37-seater Embraer 135, is expected to deepen competition in the sub-region to the benefit of passengers.

The additional flight represents a new value-offering on the West Coast and is expected to drive down prices on the Accra-Malabo route.

The airline’s entry follows the planned entry of Air France. Air France will start operations on February 27, 2017.

The France-based airline will be coming into Ghana three times a week. Its sister company KLM will still operate flights seven days a week,” a close source told the B&FT.

Growing passenger throughput, increasing number of French-speaking West Africans in Ghana, and the relatively peaceful nature of the country are some of the major lures for airlines in the region.

The transit passenger volumes increased from 14,000 in July 2015 to over 22, 000 in July this year. General international passenger departures also increased by about 6 percent; from about 72,000 in July 2015 to about 76,000 in July 2016.

Currently, Africa remains the continent with the largest number of French speakers. The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) estimate that there are 96.2 million French-speakers in Africa.

About 13 countries in Africa have French as the language of instruction at the pre-tertiary level while other countries have French or bilingual studies at the tertiary level of Education.

Another incentive for the growing number of airlines in the country, in recent times, is the reduction in the price of aviation fuel. The price of the commodity was reduced from about US$3.14 per gallon to about US$2.33 per gallon in August.

Prior to the reduction in the price of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), otherwise known as aviation fuel, the price in Ghana was the highest in the sub-region.

Economic challenges in West Africa’s largest economy Nigeria, has only served to benefit Ghana. For instance, more airlines are now lifting fuel in Ghana

Inflation in Africa’s largest economy and influential trading partner of other countries in the sub-region,has increased from about 9.2 per cent in 2015, to about 18 percent in September 2016, the highest in the oil-rich country since October 2005.

Indigenous airlines

Indigenous airlines Africa World Airlines (AWA) is strategizing to deepen its West Coast operations. It plans to commence service between Accra, Ghana and other destinations in the sub-region such as Liberia, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Burkina Faso.

Starbow is also strategizing to re-launch its West Coast service from Accra, Ghana to Liberia, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone among others.

Another indigenous airline, B&FT sources say, is undergoing the requisite process to operate international flights out of Accra.