The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), based in Nairobi, Kenya, has expressed concern about the European Union’s latest list of airlines banned from the European airspace due to safety concerns. Thirteen of the 17 countries affected by the EU ban are from Africa, with a total of 111 African airlines “blacklisted.”
“Air safety is AFRAA’s number one priority and we are the first to admit that Africa needs to improve its air safety record. However, while the EU list may be well-intended its main achievement has been to undermine international confidence in the African airline industry,” says Mr. Nick Fadugba, Secretary General of AFRAA. “The ultimate beneficiaries of the ban are European airlines which dominate the African skies to the disadvantage of African carriers. If any list is to be published, it should be done so by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global regulator of aviation safety, which has a known track record of impartiality.”
According to AFRAA, the EU list has the effect of damaging the reputation and business of many scheduled African airlines whose safety records and adherence to ICAO safety standards are comparable to the best airlines anywhere in the world.
The Association contends that a detailed examination of the EU list reveals some contradictions. For example:
• The majority of the African airlines on the list have never operated scheduled flights to Europe, do not plan to do so and have no aircraft with the range to fly to any EU state.
• The list includes many airlines that only exist on paper and are not operational. The list indicates that neither the operating license nor the ICAO registration number of most of the banned airlines are known.
In contrast to the position taken by the EU on African air safety challenges, the USA introduced the “Safe Skies for Africa” initiative aimed at upgrading capacity, developing skills and providing infrastructure to improve safety. All this is being done at a time when only a few US carriers are operating to Africa. AFRAA calls upon the EU to emulate the good example of the US and launch an air safety improvement programme for Africa rather than issue a “blacklist” which has not proved to be helpful in solving the problem.
AFRAA is ready to engage the EU and other stakeholders in constructive dialogue to find an amicable solution to the air safety challenges in Africa. The Association similarly calls upon ICAO to play its role as the principal body responsible for the regulation of international civil aviation.
Source: African Aviation
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New Airport International Airport To Be Built
The Government of Ghana is to build an additional airport in the Western Region to serve the needs of the business community, especially the budding oil sector and other emerging business opportunities.
To this end, government has tasked the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to conduct feasibility studies on an identified location, which would lead to the commencement of the project early next year.
Eric Tetteh, Planning Officer at MOT, who announced this at the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism in Accra last week, said the ministry would later this month begin feasibility studies in the area.
The meeting discussed, among other issues, what the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) that formed the membership of the Inter-Ministerial Committee were doing to improve infrastructure such as roads, airports, rail and communication facilities at tourist sites to boost patronage for the sector.
It also discussed simplification of visa processing and acquisition for overseas visitors, sanitation improvement and beautification of Accra and other urban centres, data collection on visitors to the country and the streamlining of activities for improved results.
Mr. Tetteh said the move to build the second airport in the Western Region formed part of the MOT’s policy to make the country an aviation hub.
He said the new airport would be responsible for all commercial activities in the region, while the existing one would take care of activities of the security agencies, the main reason for which it was built.
Mr. Tetteh said the Ministry was also working to position the Tamale Airport as an international one by improving its infrastructural facilities, adding that measures were being put in place to improve safety and security at the ports, a situation that would boost the confidence of tourists and investors.
He said government was also working to attract public private partnership for the project as well as construct new rail lines to tourists and commercial sites to boost investment.
Sarbah Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Tourism said government was poised to develop the country’s tourism sector to become the preferred tourist destination in Africa, which would contribute immensely to the country’s economy.
In a speech read on her behalf by Koby Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism said the tourism sector offered huge potential in terms of foreign exchange earnings, revenue generation and employment creation, stressing that government was poised to develop and promote it both locally and internationally.
She said the country’s tourism sector could stimulate the growth of other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transport, financial and ancillary services.
She however noted that this could only be achieved if stakeholders foster and strengthen necessary inter-sectoral collaboration and called on members of the committee, the private sector and other stakeholders to effectively participate in the meetings to develop the sector to create wealth.
“It cannot be disputed that the multi-faceted and multi-dimensional nature of tourism development in terms of the resource/product development, packaging and marketing is a huge task which require inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination with relevant public and private institutions and development partners,” she said.
Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health disclosed that government was working to re-equip the Ghana Ambulance Service by increasing its fleet to enhance emergency services in the country.
He said apart from assuring tourists of safety during emergencies, it would help promote critical emergency situations in remote areas where health facilities were not readily available.
James Agyenim-Boateng, a Deputy Minister of Information, called on MDA’s to use technology application to fast-track operations within the public sector.
He said the world was now at a technological age, adding that MDA’s must not be left out of the revolution.
Isaac Owusu Mensah, Assistant Director of the Ghana Immigration Service in charge of the Kotoka International Airport, said the GIS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had put in place measures to make visa application and acquisition easy for all visitors.
Mr. Mensah said the GIS had also installed a data centre which would help to monitor people with fake documents and also provide records on the backgrounds of visitors.
Source GNA
To this end, government has tasked the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to conduct feasibility studies on an identified location, which would lead to the commencement of the project early next year.
Eric Tetteh, Planning Officer at MOT, who announced this at the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism in Accra last week, said the ministry would later this month begin feasibility studies in the area.
The meeting discussed, among other issues, what the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) that formed the membership of the Inter-Ministerial Committee were doing to improve infrastructure such as roads, airports, rail and communication facilities at tourist sites to boost patronage for the sector.
It also discussed simplification of visa processing and acquisition for overseas visitors, sanitation improvement and beautification of Accra and other urban centres, data collection on visitors to the country and the streamlining of activities for improved results.
Mr. Tetteh said the move to build the second airport in the Western Region formed part of the MOT’s policy to make the country an aviation hub.
He said the new airport would be responsible for all commercial activities in the region, while the existing one would take care of activities of the security agencies, the main reason for which it was built.
Mr. Tetteh said the Ministry was also working to position the Tamale Airport as an international one by improving its infrastructural facilities, adding that measures were being put in place to improve safety and security at the ports, a situation that would boost the confidence of tourists and investors.
He said government was also working to attract public private partnership for the project as well as construct new rail lines to tourists and commercial sites to boost investment.
Sarbah Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Tourism said government was poised to develop the country’s tourism sector to become the preferred tourist destination in Africa, which would contribute immensely to the country’s economy.
In a speech read on her behalf by Koby Acheampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism said the tourism sector offered huge potential in terms of foreign exchange earnings, revenue generation and employment creation, stressing that government was poised to develop and promote it both locally and internationally.
She said the country’s tourism sector could stimulate the growth of other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, transport, financial and ancillary services.
She however noted that this could only be achieved if stakeholders foster and strengthen necessary inter-sectoral collaboration and called on members of the committee, the private sector and other stakeholders to effectively participate in the meetings to develop the sector to create wealth.
“It cannot be disputed that the multi-faceted and multi-dimensional nature of tourism development in terms of the resource/product development, packaging and marketing is a huge task which require inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination with relevant public and private institutions and development partners,” she said.
Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health disclosed that government was working to re-equip the Ghana Ambulance Service by increasing its fleet to enhance emergency services in the country.
He said apart from assuring tourists of safety during emergencies, it would help promote critical emergency situations in remote areas where health facilities were not readily available.
James Agyenim-Boateng, a Deputy Minister of Information, called on MDA’s to use technology application to fast-track operations within the public sector.
He said the world was now at a technological age, adding that MDA’s must not be left out of the revolution.
Isaac Owusu Mensah, Assistant Director of the Ghana Immigration Service in charge of the Kotoka International Airport, said the GIS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had put in place measures to make visa application and acquisition easy for all visitors.
Mr. Mensah said the GIS had also installed a data centre which would help to monitor people with fake documents and also provide records on the backgrounds of visitors.
Source GNA
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Icelandic volcanic ash alert grounds UK flights
All flights in and out of the UK have been suspended as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moves south.
Safety body Eurocontrol said up to 4,000 flights across northern Europe would be cancelled on Thursday.
The air traffic control service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in or out of UK airspace until 1800BST amid fears of engine damage.
The airspace restriction was the most significant in living memory, a spokesman said.
Nats suggested that the restrictions were unlikely to be lifted after 1800, saying it was "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future".
Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark were among the European countries hit.
Passengers were advised to contact their carriers prior to travel.
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud would be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.
But the Health Protection Agency said the ash did not pose a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude.
These are some of the main knock-on effects:
* Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports shut
* Disruptions to and from Liverpool's John Lennon, Manchester and Newcastle airports
* Severe delays at Birmingham airport with problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff International and Bristol airports
* London's Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports hit
* British Airways cancels all domestic flights on Thursday and offers refunds or an option to rebook
* Flights suspended at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport
* RAF Sea King helicopter flies a critically ill patient from Scotland to London
* Ash threat forces Great North Air Ambulance to be grounded
One passenger at Glasgow told the BBC: "I'm meant to be going to Lanzarote. We've travelled from Oban, leaving at 3am. Now we've decided we might as well just go home and do a bit of gardening."
Others switched from plane to train, with the East Coast line extending its 1830BST London to Newcastle service through to Edinburgh.
Budget airline Ryanair said no flights were operating to or from the UK on Thursday and it expected cancellations and delays on Friday.
A spokesman for Nats, which was formerly known as the National Air Traffic Services, said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.
"Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."
The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland.
Brian Flynn, assistant head of operations of its central flow management unit, told the BBC: "As it moves toward the Netherlands and Belgium it will dissipate and lose intensity, like any weather phenomenon. But we don't know what the extent of it will be."
Met Office forecaster Philip Avery said the ash could take several days to clear.
He said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south.
"Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash."
There was a nearly identical incident on 15 December 1989 when KLM Flight 867, a B747-400 from Amsterdam to Anchorage, Alaska, flew into the plume of the erupting Mount Redoubt, causing all four engines to fail.
Once the flight cleared the ash cloud, the crew was able to restart each engine and then make a safe landing at Anchorage, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
A BAA spokesman said: "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information."
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.
Source: BBC
Safety body Eurocontrol said up to 4,000 flights across northern Europe would be cancelled on Thursday.
The air traffic control service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in or out of UK airspace until 1800BST amid fears of engine damage.
The airspace restriction was the most significant in living memory, a spokesman said.
Nats suggested that the restrictions were unlikely to be lifted after 1800, saying it was "very unlikely that the situation over England will improve in the foreseeable future".
Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark were among the European countries hit.
Passengers were advised to contact their carriers prior to travel.
Experts have warned that the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud would be sufficient to jam aircraft engines.
But the Health Protection Agency said the ash did not pose a significant risk to public health because of its high altitude.
These are some of the main knock-on effects:
* Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports shut
* Disruptions to and from Liverpool's John Lennon, Manchester and Newcastle airports
* Severe delays at Birmingham airport with problems reported at East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff International and Bristol airports
* London's Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports hit
* British Airways cancels all domestic flights on Thursday and offers refunds or an option to rebook
* Flights suspended at Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport
* RAF Sea King helicopter flies a critically ill patient from Scotland to London
* Ash threat forces Great North Air Ambulance to be grounded
One passenger at Glasgow told the BBC: "I'm meant to be going to Lanzarote. We've travelled from Oban, leaving at 3am. Now we've decided we might as well just go home and do a bit of gardening."
Others switched from plane to train, with the East Coast line extending its 1830BST London to Newcastle service through to Edinburgh.
Budget airline Ryanair said no flights were operating to or from the UK on Thursday and it expected cancellations and delays on Friday.
A spokesman for Nats, which was formerly known as the National Air Traffic Services, said: "The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has issued a forecast that the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland will track over Europe tonight.
"Nats is working with Eurocontrol and our colleagues in Europe's other air navigation service providers to take the appropriate action to ensure safety in accordance with international aviation policy."
The European air safety body, Eurocontrol, said the cloud of ash had reached 55,000ft and was expected to move through northern UK and Scotland.
Brian Flynn, assistant head of operations of its central flow management unit, told the BBC: "As it moves toward the Netherlands and Belgium it will dissipate and lose intensity, like any weather phenomenon. But we don't know what the extent of it will be."
Met Office forecaster Philip Avery said the ash could take several days to clear.
He said: "It is showing up on imagery at the moment, extending down as far as the Faroes but it looks as though the wind will drag it a good deal further south.
"Nats has good cause to be very cautious about this because in about 1982 a British Airways jumbo had the unnerving experience of having all four engines shut down as it flew through a plume of volcanic ash."
There was a nearly identical incident on 15 December 1989 when KLM Flight 867, a B747-400 from Amsterdam to Anchorage, Alaska, flew into the plume of the erupting Mount Redoubt, causing all four engines to fail.
Once the flight cleared the ash cloud, the crew was able to restart each engine and then make a safe landing at Anchorage, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
A BAA spokesman said: "Passengers intending to fly today are asked to contact their airline for further information."
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in the country in less than a month.
Source: BBC
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Delta Airlines to fly direct from Accra to Atlanta
Mr Bryan, who was speaking at a luncheon with media executives, said Delta would operate three weekly services with Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
He said Delta currently operates five weekly services between Accra and New York-JFK with Boeing767-300/400 aircraft, adding that during the peak season, this summer, Delta would introduce the new 767-400 flatbed product on certain services.
Mr Bryan said Delta carried nearly 90,000 passengers on the Accra-New York route with an average load factor of 80 per cent in 2009.
Delta carries more than 160 million customers each year to 355 destinations in 65 countries on six continents worldwide, with a mainline fleet of nearly 800 aircraft and has 70,000 employees.
Source: GNA
Friday, April 9, 2010
Air Shuttle Expands Domestic Charter Route
Air Shuttle, a leading and reliable domestic airline operator, has announced the commencement of new regular charters between Accra and Kumasi aimed at providing world-class commercial and charter services to individuals and corporate bodies to facilitate commercial activities.
The new route, which takes effect from 30th of March, is to provide efficient and reliable flight services linking the major commercial cities and towns in Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions to Accra.
Managing Director of Air Shuttle Inc Ghana, Mr. Chaka Azu, said the new routes were selected to meet the safety needs of clients in order to provide an enabling environment for transacting business.
“Kumasi and Takoradi were selected as the preferred destination for Ghana operations in view of the oil and gas exploration activities as well as the huge commercial and economic markets booming in the Ashanti region”, he told B&FT in an interview.
Air Shuttle’s current operation with its Embraer 110 aircraft into Takoradi gives it approximately 32 hours aircraft utilisation per month with another 30 taken up by ad-hoc charters sustained over a period of time. Its flight expansion to Kumasi from Accra is set to connect to Takoradi under its second phase, which will require larger aircraft. Phase three of the operation will also include flight services to Tamale, and subsequently to Wa and Navrongo.
The airline has proposed a promotional return ticket price of US$160.00 for its Accra-Kumasi route and intends to ply this route thrice a week. It is also providing services from Kumasi to Takoradi on a return price per seat of US$240.00 in its quest to ensure convenience for clients.
Mr. Azu said after the airline’s planned expansion to network the entire country next year, it will also extend its commercial and corporate services to the sub-regional market - including Monrovia, Dakar, Abidjan, Banjul, Lome , Lagos and Ouagadougou.
In a bid to ensure efficiency in booking and reservation, a web-page software was developed to facilitate seat reservation and mail ticketing. This, the Managing Director said, is in line with world-class aviation standards, meant to ensure convenience and safety to clients.
“Air Shuttle’s regular charters are programmed in collaboration with the clients and charter partners, creating convenience in connecting international flights for both personnel coming into Ghana or leaving for other destinations,” Mr. Azu added.
Since it was issued Air Operations Certificate (AOC), in August 2009, Air Shuttle’s corporate services subscription has grown to include multinationals such as Schlumberger, Cosmos Energy, Bakerhughes, Expo Gulf, and Steller Group. It has also spread its client base by extending charter services to Supermaritime, Global Energy, Ocean Rig, International S.O.S, among others.
The airline, as of March this year, has 14 charter travel and tour partners across the country and is also the only commercial operator providing flight services to and from Takoradi in the Western Region of the country.
Source: Business and Financial Times.
The new route, which takes effect from 30th of March, is to provide efficient and reliable flight services linking the major commercial cities and towns in Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions to Accra.
Managing Director of Air Shuttle Inc Ghana, Mr. Chaka Azu, said the new routes were selected to meet the safety needs of clients in order to provide an enabling environment for transacting business.
“Kumasi and Takoradi were selected as the preferred destination for Ghana operations in view of the oil and gas exploration activities as well as the huge commercial and economic markets booming in the Ashanti region”, he told B&FT in an interview.
Air Shuttle’s current operation with its Embraer 110 aircraft into Takoradi gives it approximately 32 hours aircraft utilisation per month with another 30 taken up by ad-hoc charters sustained over a period of time. Its flight expansion to Kumasi from Accra is set to connect to Takoradi under its second phase, which will require larger aircraft. Phase three of the operation will also include flight services to Tamale, and subsequently to Wa and Navrongo.
The airline has proposed a promotional return ticket price of US$160.00 for its Accra-Kumasi route and intends to ply this route thrice a week. It is also providing services from Kumasi to Takoradi on a return price per seat of US$240.00 in its quest to ensure convenience for clients.
Mr. Azu said after the airline’s planned expansion to network the entire country next year, it will also extend its commercial and corporate services to the sub-regional market - including Monrovia, Dakar, Abidjan, Banjul, Lome , Lagos and Ouagadougou.
In a bid to ensure efficiency in booking and reservation, a web-page software was developed to facilitate seat reservation and mail ticketing. This, the Managing Director said, is in line with world-class aviation standards, meant to ensure convenience and safety to clients.
“Air Shuttle’s regular charters are programmed in collaboration with the clients and charter partners, creating convenience in connecting international flights for both personnel coming into Ghana or leaving for other destinations,” Mr. Azu added.
Since it was issued Air Operations Certificate (AOC), in August 2009, Air Shuttle’s corporate services subscription has grown to include multinationals such as Schlumberger, Cosmos Energy, Bakerhughes, Expo Gulf, and Steller Group. It has also spread its client base by extending charter services to Supermaritime, Global Energy, Ocean Rig, International S.O.S, among others.
The airline, as of March this year, has 14 charter travel and tour partners across the country and is also the only commercial operator providing flight services to and from Takoradi in the Western Region of the country.
Source: Business and Financial Times.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
11 African Airlines banned from flying to Europe
The European Commission has decided to ban 278 airlines from flying to Europe, including 11 from African countries, according to a statement issued here on Wednesday.
African airlines banned from flying in the European skies included those from Benin, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.
The measure was taken on the basis of the results of safety checks carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the statement said.
Source: Panapress
African airlines banned from flying in the European skies included those from Benin, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.
The measure was taken on the basis of the results of safety checks carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the statement said.
Source: Panapress
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