International airlines plan flights to Kumasi – Report

The new Kumasi International Airport, which is to be inaugurated on Friday, May 10, 2024, is generating a lot of interest from major international airlines, with at least four currently discussing potential direct flights to the Ashanti Regional capital.

The airlines, based in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, who asked not to be named, have conducted extensive commercial viability of operating direct flights to the Kumasi International Airport, given the limitations of the current runway, and have followed up with formal enquiries to the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Ghana Airports Company Limited respectively.

The Kumasi International Airport has a runway length of 1,981m capable of supporting the operations on A319s, A320s, and Boeing 737s.

The further extension of the existing runway pavement from 1,981 meters to 2,320 meters is planned to enable it to accommodate other larger aircraft.

Official Inauguration

The official inauguration by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will pave way for further testing of equipment at the new terminal building ahead of the full relocation of all domestic passenger service from the old terminal building to the new one in June.

The Transport Minster, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, and the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne N. A. Opare, and other dignitaries are expected to join President Akufo-Addo and Otumfuo for the inauguration.

The Kumasi International Airport, located at the heart of Ghana’s second most populated city, Kumasi, has undergone a total makeover within the past half-decade.

The new ultra-modern terminal building, which is capable of handling over 800,000 passengers per year, has modern passenger processing installations in place and is equipped with navigation aids. Jet A1 (aviation fuel) is also available at the facility.