As Ghana’s December 7 general elections approach, domestic airlines are seeing a significant rise in passenger numbers, driven by voters finalising travel plans to their home constituencies.
Industry sources report a surge in bookings as the election draws near, prompting airlines to ramp up operations to meet growing demand. Many are adjusting schedules and increasing flight frequencies to ensure smoother travel for voters, election officials, and materials.
In an interview with Channel One News, Captain Kwasi Oteng, Chief Operating Officer of Africa World Airlines, attributed the rise in traffic to both the election period and the upcoming festive season. He confirmed that the airline had adjusted its schedules, particularly for key destinations like Tamale and Kumasi, to accommodate the increase in passenger numbers.
“We’ve already seen a significant rise in domestic travel in the last couple of weeks, and to manage this, we’ve adjusted our commercial schedule. For example, we’ve increased flights to Tamale from three to five per day and to Kumasi from six to eight,” Oteng explained.
The airline is also working closely with the Ghana Airport Company to ensure passenger safety remains a priority during this busy period, with Oteng emphasising the airline’s commitment to maintaining its high safety standards.
However, one challenge facing voters is the limited operational hours of airports like Tamale and Kumasi, which currently do not offer 24-hour domestic flight services, potentially causing delays for last-minute bookings.
Source:TheDotNews