Rédaction Africa Links 24 with News Desk
Published on 2024-03-19 01:10:44
Goldstar Air, known as the Wings of Ghana, is determined to breathe new life into Ho Airport in the Volta Region, a location often referred to as the ‘’Ghost Town.’’ The Chief Executive Officer, Eric Bannerman, expressed in a press release that the airline’s unique approach to development aims not only to increase passenger traffic at the airport but also to stimulate substantial economic growth in the region and throughout the country.
Despite being completed in 2017, Ho Airport has remained dormant. The airport features a runway that measures 1,900 by 30 meters (6,300 ft x 98 ft) and a terminal capable of handling 150,000 passengers annually. Bannerman emphasized that the airport’s ability to accommodate specific aircraft depends on its runway capacity, a critical factor for meeting the various requirements of different planes. While larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 require runways of 3,000 and 3,100 meters respectively, they are not suitable for Ho Airport. Instead, narrowbody aircraft like the Boeing 737-800, which requires a runway length of 1510 meters under certain conditions, are more practical for operations at Ho Airport.
Goldstar Air plans to operate round-the-clock flights from Accra International and Kumasi International Airports to make Ho Airport a significant hub. Initially, the airline will offer direct flights to and from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, focusing on Muslim passengers in the Volta Region and neighboring countries like Togo and Benin. The airline intends to expand its services gradually to include loyalty charter flights to and from Europe, with the aim of transforming Ho Airport into a fully operational international airport.
By promoting ‘Destination Volta,’ Goldstar Air aims to showcase Ho Airport as a premier tourist destination globally. The airline also plans to leverage the operations at Ho Airport to generate revenue, contribute towards infrastructure maintenance costs, and stimulate the local economy. These efforts are expected to create over one hundred thousand direct jobs for Ghanaians and help boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Goldstar Air will initially operate flights from Kumasi International Airport to Rome, Madrid, Hamburg, London, Dusseldorf, and Milan, while flights from Accra Kotoka International Airport will connect to destinations such as Baltimore Washington, Dubai, Lagos, Toronto, Monrovia, and more. The airline’s ambitious initiatives are aimed at not only revitalizing Ho Airport but also making a significant impact on the aviation industry in Ghana.
