Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, says the re-opening of transport service at the Sunyani airport will open up the region to many opportunities.

The Sunyani airport was on August 3, 2022, commissioned by President Nana Akufo-Addo after the completion of the first phase of rehabilitation after six years of closure.

Passion Air has announced the commencement of air transport services between Sunyani and Accra from September 9, 2022, and plans to fly four times a week.

This will reduce road travel time from about eight hours to about one hour.

Speaking at a day’s stakeholder forum in Sunyani, organized by Passion Air, in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council, the Bono Regional Minister said, “the re-opening of air transport will not only facilitate easy traveling time but will also stimulate the economic growth potentials of the region through an increase in trade and investments”.

She implored stakeholders in the commerce and aviation industry to seize the opportunity and promote the development of the region in the eco and cultural tourism potential of the region.

Justina Owusu Banahene also relished the impact the re-opening of the air transport services would have on the healthcare services of the people in and around the region.

“Even though we have our regional hospital here, there are more healthcare specialists in Accra at the Korle Bu Teaching, Police, 37 military hospitals, and others. Patients who need specialized attention can be flown to these facilities on time, or specialists could be flown to Sunyani to provide special medical attention. Doctors who want to do their practicals in Sunyani can also come. All kinds of businesses, academic works, and many others are now achievable on time”.

She, however, appealed to the people to patronize it to ensure sustainability.

The forum offered the stakeholders, including traditional leaders, the opportunity to get responses to questions on the re-opening of the air transport services and related matters to achieve a successful operation of the Ghana Airport Company Limited and Passion Air.

The Sales and marketing manager of Passion Air, Samuel Tachie, said they are ready to offer good customer services to the Bono and surrounding regions, good on-time performance and deliveries, and could increase the frequency of flights beyond 4 depending on the demand on the route.

“Our ground operations are ready. We are here to do market activation activities –hence the forum, our operational teams are ready in Accra, and we will operate the inaugural flight on September 9, 2022, afterwards, we commence our commercial operations”, he said.

He also noted that the response after their groundwork in Sunyani is good and believes as the bread basket of Ghana, the region would be opened to businesses, attract investors and enable people to travel between Sunyani and Accra within the shortest possible time once they start operations.