According to sources close to the airline, Ibom Air, which is based in Nigeria, has set October 2, 2023 as the beginning date for the introduction of its regional flights to Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The airline anticipates using the start of flights to Accra's Kotoka International Airport as a springboard for further expansion in the West Africa sub-region. The airline now operates flights to five cities in Nigeria from its hub in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
This year, it's anticipated that the two new airlines with bases in Nigeria would help boost regional passenger throughput even more. Three of Nigeria's top airlines will then fly to Accra, Ghana.
The fleet of Ibom Air consists of five Bombardier CRJ900s and two Airbus A220-300s, with ten more on order.
Nigerian Airlines is planning more flights to Accra.
"United Airlines, Ibom Air, and another [airline] have received the approval of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority [to start flying to Ghana] and I must thank the Ghanaian authorities for this," said Captain Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in an earlier interview with AviationGhana.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) informed United Nigeria Airlines on July 13 that its request to fly into Ghana had been granted.
United Nigeria Airlines is permitted to run both passenger and cargo flights into Kotoka International Airport in Accra, according to the letter.
"Approval is hereby granted United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited in accordance with Ghana Civil Aviation (Flight Standard) Directives Part 10 to continue commercial transport operations into, or from, Ghana in accordance with the Air Operators certificate and its associated Operations Specifications issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority," wrote Ing. Charles Kraikue, Director General of GCAA, who also signed the approval.
At the moment, United Nigeria Airlines flies mostly internal routes within Nigeria, with stops at Abuja, Asaba, Lagos, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, and Enugu.
-By Osita Agba | thetransporteronline24 | Nigeria
