New Ghanaian airline acquires licence to stir competition

Goldstar Air, a wholly owned Ghanaian company, has received an Air Carrier Certificate from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights to 11 destinations across the world, including Baltimore in the United States of America and Gatwick in the United Kingdom.

The company, which is waiting for its Air Operators Certificate to enable it to start full operations by the second quarter of next year, is also expected to fly to nine destinations, which are Guangzhou, Dubai, Monrovia, Lagos, Abijan, Freetown, Dakar, Conakry and Banjul. It will be using the Boeing 767-300 ER for its long haul routes while the Boeing 737-300 ER will be used on the West Coast.

The Chief Executive Officer of Goldstar Air, Mr Eric Bannerman, told the Daily Graphic in an interview shortly after receiving the certificate that “when we start flying, we will be the third airline in Ghana to fly directly to the United States of America after Delta and South African Airways and the second to fly directly to the UK after British Airways”.

“What is even more refreshing for our fellow Ghanaian businessmen and women who travel to China and Dubai is that we will be the first to fly directly from Accra to Guangzhou in China and the second to fly directly to Dubai,” he added.

Mr Bannerman described the feat chalked up by the company as most refreshing and unique and even promised that the management would ensure that flights were on time.

The entry of Goldstar into the already competitive aviation market, particularly on the American and London routes, is expected to stir up the industry to bring more benefits to travellers in terms of services and fares.

Luggage

Mr Bannerman said “after studying the market over the year, we have realised that Ghanaians travel heavy and therefore we have made adequate provisions to cater for their needs”.

He said the company, in its quest to meet the flying needs of Ghanaians, will allow three bags of 23 kilos each on board per passenger unlike the industry’s allowance of only two bags.

“The three bags will be without the hand luggage and that, as I said, is being done to enable Ghanaians have the opportunity to travel heavy at no extra cost”, he said.

Cabin crew

Mr Bannerman said the cabin crew would be purely locals.

“We will not have any foreigner on board because we have many qualified cabin crew in Ghana and they will be used”, he said “adding that they will also be trained to sell Ghana wherever their destinations are”.

Mr Bannerman said while on board, Ghanaian dishes would be served and local movies would be shown as a way of showcasing the Ghanaian culture to the rest of the world.

Present to grace the occasion were Mr Paul Kontoh, Director, General Services, Mr Daniel Acquah, and Director, Safety, all from the GCAA. Others were Mr Charles Nettey, Airport Manager, Mr Theophilus Eze, Director of Communications, Goldstar Air and Mr George Lartey, Goldstar Representative in London.

Source: Graphic