New Airline Choice in Ghana
GunsssR4ever
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Out there somewhere ...
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Airline Choice in Ghana
As of April 14th, air travelers wishing to fly in and out of Ghana have a new option when choosing their airline. In addition to older companies like Ghana Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa, Bellview Airlines, a Nigerian company, will now offer flight service from and to Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
Accordingly, the company has opened up a new regional office on Ring Road East to serve its Accra business.
Ghana joins a number of West African countries to be served by the airline, including Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Nigeria and Guinea. Bellview also flies direct to Europe via Amsterdam, to East Africa via Nairobi, and to India via Bombay. Flights within the sub-region are served by two DC-9-32 series planes, while the intercontinental routes use state of the art A300-600R planes.
This reporter visited the new Accra office, where representatives were shy. "We are very new here," they said, "Come back in a few months and we will have much to say."
A visit to Bellview's website (www.bellviewair.com), however, reveals more information on the young company than one might need. Some highlights:
Bellview started out as a travel agency in 1987. Five years later, the company leased a Russian plane, a Yak 40 with a capacity of 30 passengers. This plane was strictly for commercial use, but in 1993, the airline began serving passengers, operating a DC-9-32 series plane within Nigeria. As mentioned above, the airline now has two DC-9-32's and one A300-600R plane.
With almost 10 years of flying under its belt, Bellview still has an accident-free track record. It is known throughout the industry for its superior customer service, and it has been voted best airline in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The airline is the first private African company to offer Airbus service. And now it is here in Ghana.
Accordingly, the company has opened up a new regional office on Ring Road East to serve its Accra business.
Ghana joins a number of West African countries to be served by the airline, including Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Nigeria and Guinea. Bellview also flies direct to Europe via Amsterdam, to East Africa via Nairobi, and to India via Bombay. Flights within the sub-region are served by two DC-9-32 series planes, while the intercontinental routes use state of the art A300-600R planes.
This reporter visited the new Accra office, where representatives were shy. "We are very new here," they said, "Come back in a few months and we will have much to say."
A visit to Bellview's website (www.bellviewair.com), however, reveals more information on the young company than one might need. Some highlights:
Bellview started out as a travel agency in 1987. Five years later, the company leased a Russian plane, a Yak 40 with a capacity of 30 passengers. This plane was strictly for commercial use, but in 1993, the airline began serving passengers, operating a DC-9-32 series plane within Nigeria. As mentioned above, the airline now has two DC-9-32's and one A300-600R plane.
With almost 10 years of flying under its belt, Bellview still has an accident-free track record. It is known throughout the industry for its superior customer service, and it has been voted best airline in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The airline is the first private African company to offer Airbus service. And now it is here in Ghana.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bamako
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm.. their website doesn't say that they fly to Bamako *frowns*. Then again, it mentions nothing about Accra, so 
Incidentally, I heard rumours that about a year ago SAA were trying to get permission from the local authorities here to fly an ACC-BKO and BKO-ACC route? Know anything about this?
It'd certainly help me out..!
Incidentally, I heard rumours that about a year ago SAA were trying to get permission from the local authorities here to fly an ACC-BKO and BKO-ACC route? Know anything about this?
It'd certainly help me out..!
GunsssR4ever
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Out there somewhere ...
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yip I personally will not "touch" Bellview.
Had one bad experience with them between Monrovia and Freetown - never again ...
The rumour re SAA was very strong - I still posted a thread on it last year, but so far nothing.
Ghana Airways / Ghana Government wants a West Africa hub - but they want full control over it (makes it easier to steal money) and unfortunately SAA is too "rigid" for them - but give it time.
The other Airways are ALL bribeable
Had one bad experience with them between Monrovia and Freetown - never again ...
The rumour re SAA was very strong - I still posted a thread on it last year, but so far nothing.
Ghana Airways / Ghana Government wants a West Africa hub - but they want full control over it (makes it easier to steal money) and unfortunately SAA is too "rigid" for them - but give it time.
The other Airways are ALL bribeable
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bamako
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gunship: Yeah, don't think I'll be recommending Bellview to the GM either..
So noone knows what's happening in regards to SAA flying into Bamako, then? I have to say it'd make my life a lot bloody easier! I find it ridiculous that Ghana want a West African hub around here, for a start they should:
a) work out how to stick to a schedule
b) work out how to communicate with their different offices
c) work out how to answer the `phone
d) finish renovating Kotokoa Airport!
Incidentally I haven't needed to "dash" an airline.. yet. I have to say, though, I find Air France's policy of charging French residents CFA260,000 to Paris and CFA700,000 for non-residents quite upsetting!
So noone knows what's happening in regards to SAA flying into Bamako, then? I have to say it'd make my life a lot bloody easier! I find it ridiculous that Ghana want a West African hub around here, for a start they should:
a) work out how to stick to a schedule
b) work out how to communicate with their different offices
c) work out how to answer the `phone
d) finish renovating Kotokoa Airport!
Incidentally I haven't needed to "dash" an airline.. yet. I have to say, though, I find Air France's policy of charging French residents CFA260,000 to Paris and CFA700,000 for non-residents quite upsetting!
GunsssR4ever
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Out there somewhere ...
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
W H A T !!!
I find Air France's policy of charging French residents CFA260,000 to Paris and CFA700,000 for non-residents quite upsetting!
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: London,Bucharest...wherever...
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as I am aware Bellview A300-600R returned to Lessor best part of 2 years ago now...there was only 1 DC9-32 recently, wet leased from JAT...
They have leased 2 B737-200's from GECAS in March this year however.
Looks like journo not checked his facts...unless things have changed dramatically...and the BVU website is way out of date!
They have leased 2 B737-200's from GECAS in March this year however.
Looks like journo not checked his facts...unless things have changed dramatically...and the BVU website is way out of date!
Last edited by Boss Raptor; 21st May 2003 at 03:33.
GunsssR4ever
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Out there somewhere ...
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lo Boss Raptor,
As I landed last night with SNA (Midwest Airlines) - the Bellview 737 Taxied in.
They made / still making / going to make a killing ferrieng Nigerian UN troops to and fro to Nigeria (obviously at cooked UN rates)
Cheers and nice to hear from you on this forum.
As I landed last night with SNA (Midwest Airlines) - the Bellview 737 Taxied in.
They made / still making / going to make a killing ferrieng Nigerian UN troops to and fro to Nigeria (obviously at cooked UN rates)
Cheers and nice to hear from you on this forum.
