A new indigenous carrier, PassionAir, is to start scheduled operations between Accra and three main domestic destinations—Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale–by mid-August.

Africa World Airlines (AWA) currently remains the only domestic airline servicing the Accra-Kumasi-Accra; Accra-Takoradi-Accra; and Accra-Tamale-Accra routes. The shortage of options, in the face of the growing demand for seats on AWA, due to the gap left by Starbow, have meant that customers must pay higher fares to fly.

PassionAir, operated by trained Ghanaian aviation professionals and set to take delivery of its first aircraft, a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, will start operations in mid-August with thrice (3X) daily service to the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi. This new service is expected to lead to some reduction in airfares in the short-to-medium term.

Idi Donald Maswaure, Chief Operating Officer of PassionAir, told the B&FT that the airline will pass on the savings made with the use of the economically efficient Dash 8 Q400 to consumers.

He said: “Our operational plan is that we will start operating Accra-Kumasi with the first aircraft, we will gradually increase our frequency to three frequencies—that might last for just a few days—and then up until five frequencies per day.

When the second aircraft comes in then we will introduce Tamale and increase the Accra-Kumasi frequency too. When the third aircraft comes in, we will introduce Takoradi scheduled operation and further increase the frequency on Tamale.”

Mr. Maswaure added that: “Our entry programme is that, we are a new baby and we want to be known; that is our crawling stage. Then our walking stage will be to stimulate traffic in some of the airports that people are thinking that it is not functioning or yet to be serviced by an airline.

We hope that with the introduction of PassionAir and the comfortable schedules we are introducing, that will stimulate the market.”

Anita Khoury, Commercial Manager, PassionAir, said: “Our booking systems is very user friendly. We have made it possible for the public to book, pay online, and check-in online from the convenience of their homes, offices and wherever they may be.”