The much-anticipated maiden flight by domestic carrier, African World Airline has finally landed at the Ho Airport, Thursday afternoon.
The Embraer 145 airplane flown by Captain Kwesi Oteng, touched down at the domestic airport at 14:10 hours GMT with 36 passengers onboard. They include officials of the airline, led by their co-founder, Togbe Afede XIV, officials of the Ghana Airport Company and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, who took off from the Domestic terminal of the Kotoka International Airport in Accra at about 13:40 hours GMT.
Present to welcome the passengers and crew, were traditional leaders of Asogli – Togbe Afede’s paramountcy, political leaders including, the Volta regional minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa and Mr. Henry Ametefee, Regional Chairman of the opposition NDC.
The traditional leaders performed libation to thank the gods for the safe arrival of the first commercial flight to the region and also commit the official operations of the airline at the Ho Airport.
Togbe Afede, who is also the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State in Ho, briefing the media upon arrival, paid glowing tribute to the government of former President Mahama for initiating the airport project and the current government for seeing through its completion and operationalization.
He said the start of commercial flight to the Ho Airport by the African World Airline was a dream come true, for which residents must embrace and patronise to make the aviation business in the region viable and sustainable.
‘From today, we expect that ordinary passengers will be able to travel to Accra in a matter of 20 minutes by air,’ he stated, adding that, with the rising cost of fuel in the country, it was cheaper for people to park their cars and board a flight to Accra and back in record time.
Togbe Afede further noted that, the region’s tourism sector was set for a boom, as some groups have already begun moves to organise chartered flights for tourists to visit the numerous tourist attractions in the region.
He therefore entreated residents to keep to their side of the bargain as the government and other stakeholders have done part to bring aviation services to their doorsteps. He also hinted of plans to start a pilot training school and aircraft maintenance facility in the area, in order to create career opportunities for young people in the aviation industry.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company, Mr. Yaw Kwakwa said his outfit was still engaging other domestic carriers to ply the route, adding that, with in due course, there will be flight from other parts of the country to the Ho airport and vice versa.
Dr. Archibald Letsa, the Volta Regional minister expressed appreciation to AWA for keeping to their word and activating the commercial flight on the Ho air route. He charged residents to take advantage of opportunities the aviation industry of the region.
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Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
