Flight services to Wa Airport on hold due to dwindling passenger numbers – Adda

The Minister for Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda, has attributed the suspension of flight services to the Wa Airport to dwindling numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the rehabilitation of the Wa Airport in October 2019, airline services to the Upper West Regional Capital commenced.

However, operations have been suspended in recent times. Answering questions in Parliament, Joseph Adda said the service will only resume when passenger numbers improve.

“The attention of the Ghana Airports Company Limited has been drawn to the issue. Efforts are being made to quickly repair the Airport and make it ready for use. I wish to conclude by saying that the recent suspension of flight operations to Wa is mainly due to the COVID-19 and the decline in passenger numbers. I therefore wish to assure the house that efforts are being made to resolve the situation,’ he said.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, international and domestic flights were grounded by the President under the Restriction of movement Act, from March 30, 2020,

Despite this, cargo transport is allowed, as well as special passenger services such as the evacuation of Ghanaians from elsewhere and other nationals out of Ghana.

This has affected a lot of stakeholders in the airline industry.

However, domestic airline operators resumed operations from Accra to various destinations, from Friday, [May 1, 2020] after the completion of a disinfection exercise at the various airports in the country.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has told Citi Business News that it has lost almost 95% of its revenue due to the coronavirus induced ban on international passenger travel.

The Director General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey, says they have also taken drastic measures such as pay cuts to remain in business.