Overview
Just back from Accra, little change.
AWA had one a/c AOG with some serious issues following a bird strike.
Fly540 continuing with a single aircraft, amtrak still operating the entire fleet of wet leased ATR72s but potentially in trouble with EASA for the length of stay.
Starbow seem to be getting their act together, most of the expat team having reached end of their contracts and moved on.
Pison so far are a no show, perhaps due to GCAA conditions.
VS pulled off the LHR route citing crazy fuel prices at Kotoka.
Supposed bi-lateral arrangements on the vital and lucrative Accra-Lagos route are for Nigerian operators, due to "administrative issues" in Lagos. Read into that what you will, so far the GCAA has not pulled the plug on this completely one sided arrangement for reasons unknown !!!!
Until the corruption stops and a level playing field is established, Accra based operators are working with both hands tied behind their backs.
The new starts making headway in the region are from bases in the region who have regulators who want to help them succeed with tax and duty breaks. Accra is not one of those. Poor fuel supply logistics and reliability result in flight cancellations for all operations often at zero notice, and of an indeterminate duration also cause massive commercial problems.
Rather than being a regional hub, the initiative appears to have been lost due the above and the removal of the ability smaller operators to self handle domestic flights at Kotoka will ultimately kill the business models of the airlines based there, in short the operational and commercial advantage will land in the hands of neighbouring states who will use their advantages to full effect. Game over.
Business as usual:-)
Last edited by Teddy Robinson; 11th Dec 2013 at 23:37.
Reason: Typos