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Antrak Air to fly to to Saudi Arabia
Accra, July 17, Ghanadot/GNA Management of Antrak Air, an
Accra-based airline has acquired the necessary designation
to begin flights to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Asoma Banda,
Chairman of Antrak Air announced on Thursday.
Speaking at a passing out ceremony for new cabin crew and
dispatch officers, Alhaji Banda said they received the
approval last Wednesday.
However, there are still some technical details, including
the aircraft to use before flight operations could begin to
Saudi Arabia.
All things being equal we hope to get over these technical
hurdles before the beginning of this years Hajj, Alhaji
Banda assured.
The airline expects to make two flights weekly to the
Kingdom when operations finally kick-off.
Antrak Air started operations in September 2003 and operates
scheduled domestic, regional and international services, as
well as charter services in West Africa.
Currently, the airline domestic destinations are Kumasi and
Tamale. It also has international flights to Ouagadougou in
Burkina Faso.
I am delighted that my vision to create jobs and help the
teeming youth is coming into fruition, he said and called
on government to create the enabling environment for
businesses to thrive.
Touching on the development of the airline industry, Alhaji
Banda called for partnership among local entrepreneurs to
ensure that Ghana returned to her category one status that
allowed Ghanaian registered carriers to fly directly to the
United States with Ghanaian pilots and cabin crew.
This status was withdrawn about three years ago by the
Federal Aviation Authority of the USA due to safety
concerns.
My appeal is to the Ministry of Aviation and Ghana Civil
Aviation Authority (GCAA) to do all within their power to
get the category one status restored, he said.
Mr Simon Allotey, Acting Director General of GCAA, said the
deficiencies that led to the withdrawal of the category one
status had been dealt with through training and strict
enforcement of maintenance procedures by Inspectors.
We have stepped up our training for safety inspectors while
ensuring that adequate supervision and enforcement measures
are undertaken to restore the confidence in the country as
the safest destination for air services operations, he
said.
Despite these measures, Mr Allotey said, the category one
status would only be restored when there was a willing
Ghanaian carrier ready to fly into the US.
I am afraid if none of the three Ghanaian registered
carriers take it upon themselves to fly into the US the
status would be the same, he emphasized.
Mr Allotey said GCAA, as the regulator, would work hand in
hand with the operators to ensure a sustainable growth and
development in the aviation industry.
Mr George Scott, Chief Director, Ministry of Aviation,
commended management of Antrak Air for its contribution to
the growth of the industry in the country.
He urged the domestic airline carriers to be safety
conscious by adhering to routine maintenance and security
checks to meet international standards.
In all 14 cabin crew and seven dispatch officers graduated.
GNA
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