South African state-owned airline to establish presence in Ghana next year
South African state-owned airline, SA Express says it want to start operations in Ghana early next year. It wants to use the country as its hub for the West African sub-region.
The Johannesburg based news publication, the Business Day on July 27, 2011, reports that SA Express is planning to procure additional aircraft in future to support its push into Africa.
“In the next 12 months, SA Express will establish a presence in Ghana, which will serve as the airline’s hub in West Africa,” the publication said citing Mr. Inati Ntshanga, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SA Express.
If operational, SA Express will become the second South African state-owned airline to do business in Ghana after South African Airways.
Meanwhile the officials of the airline say it will spend about $674 million (4.5 billion rand) next year, on renewing its fleet to service southern Africa.
SA Express was established on April 24, 1994 and has since become one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Africa.
It has a fleet of 27 aircraft, 13 of which are owned by the carrier, with the rest being leased.
By Ekow Quandzie
Ghana should developed it Airports facilities as well as good and decent airports to accomodate this growth else they will loose business such as these.