Virgin Atlantic Airlines has cited Ghana's economic recovery as a key reason for its decision to resume daily flights to Accra, starting May 1, 2025.

The airline has expressed confidence in the positive prospects, stating that it expects good returns on its operations based on the current state of the economy.

In an exclusive interview with JoyBusiness in Accra, Virgin Atlantic's Chief Commercial Officer, Juha Jarvinen, highlighted that the economic outlook plays a significant role in the airline's decision to expand its services to the country.

“We are looking at how Ghana’s economy is developing and the prospects that it presents to our operations when it comes to businesses, passengers and the youth," he said.

“We have also been here before, so we really understand the market and how to get around it “The Chief Commercial Officer added “We feel that the time is right to return to Ghana after the 12-year break because everything about the environment is good for our operations” the Chief Commercial Officer noted.

The Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic Juha Jarvinen noted "The UK is home to the third largest Ghanaian diaspora in the world and we see huge opportunities to connect friends, relatives and businesses with our new service, as well as providing much-needed competition and choice on the Accra to London route.”

Background

 Virgin Atlantic Airlines last month announced that it has resumed daily flight services on the London (Heathrow)- Accra-London route. According to the Airline, it will commence services from May 1, 2025 on its Mix of Airbus A330 and A339.

Virgin Atlantic in September 2013 announced that it suspended its operations on the London- Accra -London Route after three years of service. According to the airline, the move was influenced by that the “exceptionally high price of fuel in Ghana”.

Virgin Atlantic also blamed the situation on the wider economic environment and the ability to operate morning arrivals from Accra due to a scarcity of slots in London.

 Time slot concerns and pricing

The Chief Commercial Officer for Virgin Atlantic also rejected arguments the time slots and schedule is not good for their operations when it comes to flying out of Accra in the morning and getting out of London in the evening.

He noted that “leaving London in the evening and getting into Accra is a good schedule “

“We are confident about our time schedule to Ghana; we have operated these schedules and has gotten us the results” Mr. Juha Jarvinen noted.

On pricing, Mr Jarvinen noted that “we believe that we are competitively priced and Virgin Atlantic will be the airline of preference for many persons that want to fly from London to Accra.

“Virgin Atlantic Airlines is always competitively priced went it comes to our service offering and Ghanaians will not regret choosing us “Mr. Jarvinen added

He added that we are ready to compete on pricing and we promise to the best choice.

On Competition, The Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic assured that “we are ready to compete on the London -Accra London route “

Supporting Ghana’s Economy and Tourism Sector

 The Chief Commercial Officer for Virgin Atlantic Airlines also revealed that Virgin Atlantic Airlines will start selling Ghana as Tourist destination to their clients all over the world, through their virgin Atlantic Holidays.

“This will be done through, their inhouse Tour operator, Virgin Atlantic Holidays “The Chief Commercial Officer disclosed

The Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic Juha Jarvinen “we want to be part of that change in the significant growth that Ghana is recording when it comes tourism”

"We see Ghana as an opportunity when it comes to tourism and we want to be part of it,” he added

The Chief Commercial Officer added that we offer this service in every market that we operate and we believe that the time is right to add Ghana to our global service.