Ms Tosan Woode, Head of Sales and Marketing of Virgin Atlantic Airlines has praised Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) for its role in ensuring the continued operation of the airline in Ghana.

She said had it not been for GACL arranging for the airline to arrive early in the mornings at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Virgin Atlantic would have ceased its operations to Accra.

Ms Woode made the commendation in Accra on Thursday when the airline sponsored GACL’s quarterly Foreign Objects and Debris (FOD) Walk at the airside of KIA.

The walk was to mark the second anniversary of the airline’s operations in Ghana.

The exercise involved picking of FOD refuse, pieces of metal, wood, rubber, bolts, nuts and other debris from the airside which drew staff from Virgin Atlantic, GACL, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Immigration Service and other airlines operating at the airport.

This is done to prevent aircrafts taking off or landing from sucking in any object which would damage it.

“It is our second birthday and we decided to sponsor this walk to show our commitment to GACL’S efforts to ensure safety and security at the airport. FOD is damaging at every aircraft and so we wish that other airlines would follow suit. Virgin Atlantic would be sponsoring the walk yearly,” said Ms. Woode.

She stated that the airline was looking forward to introduce double daily flights in future and would continue to provide its customers with choice as well as contribute to create a viable economy in Ghana.

The management presented three large dustbins to GACL to be used at the airside.

The airline began services from Heathrow to Accra on May 24, 2010 with three services a week using an Airbus A340-300 aircraft with 240 seats onboard, and has now increased to five services a week.**