Two new airlines - Ashanti airlines and Gold Coast airlines have submitted applications to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for an air carrier license.

The airlines are seeking the license in a bid to commence both domestic and regional operations.

This follows earlier announcements of some five airlines also undergoing various certification stages to commence operations in the country.

Speaking to JoyBusiness, the Director General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey explained the prospective airlines have just begun the certification process. He said, “Civil Aviation Authority has received applications from Ashanti airlines and Gold Coast airlines for an air carrier license. That is the very first stage.”

“We go through what we call the economic license or the Air Carrier Licensing, we review the business plan of the prospective airline, we work with them to make sure it is feasible, it is viable and once that is completed; we obtain national security clearance for the prospective operator.” 

Mr Allotey added, “If it is successful then they are issued with the Air Carrier License. Once they get the Air Carrier License, they go through a five-phased certification programme and upon completion, they are issued with what we call an Air Operating Certificate (AOC), which makes them full fletched airline capable of scheduling passenger services and cargo operations.

So we would work with prospective airlines to help them quickly go through the entire process.”

Other airlines

According to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Asamoah Gyan’s airline has already received an air carrier license and now at the fourth stage of the certification, which will be the demonstration and validation stage.

He said, “Asamoah Gyan’s airline is far advanced; they are getting to the fourth phase of their certification programme, which would be the demonstration and validation stage of their operations. 

We are working on bringing in an aircraft, which we will use for the demonstration-we will do a revenue flight where we will simulate various situations to make sure that they can actually fly safely in accordance with our standards.” 

“So they are very close to commencing operations,” he added.

The other airlines are hoping to enter Ghana’s aviation market include, Montrac Air, Goldstar Air, Smile Air, as well as DAC airlines. They are currently undergoing various stages of certification.

The announcement of the two new airlines brings the total number of new airlines to seven. This is expected to open up the domestic air travel and end the current era of monopoly being enjoyed by Indigenous carrier Africa World Air.