Ghana Targets New National Airline Launch by First Quarter 2027

Ghana plans to formalise operations for a new national airline within the next 12 months, paving the way for a potential launch by the first quarter of 2027, according to the country’s transport minister. The initiative represents the latest attempt to re-establish a state-backed carrier more than two decades after the collapse of Ghana Airways.

Speaking in Accra, Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said the government is working to complete all outstanding regulatory processes and documentation within the coming year. He made the comments while welcoming the launch of a new three-times-weekly service to Accra by Air Tanzania from Dar es Salaam on January 28. Nikpe expressed confidence that the groundwork for a Ghanaian flag carrier is nearing completion, saying the country would soon celebrate a homegrown airline operating international services.

To oversee the project, the government established a 10-member national airline task team in May 2025. The group is responsible for key elements of the revival effort, including fleet acquisition, staffing, governance structures, and route planning. The task team is chaired by Charles Asare, a former managing director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited, and includes aviation professionals as well as former regulators with experience in airline oversight.

While Nikpe did not disclose details regarding the airline’s ownership structure, funding model, or initial fleet, he said progress is being made steadily. Industry observers note that decisions around whether the carrier will be fully state-owned, privately backed, or structured as a public-private partnership will be critical to its long-term viability.

Ghana has previously struggled to sustain a national airline. Ghana Airways ceased operations in 2004 after years of financial difficulties, and a later attempt to revive a flag carrier through Ghana International Airlines collapsed in 2010. These past failures have made policymakers cautious, with greater emphasis now placed on commercial discipline, professional management, and realistic network planning.

The proposed national airline should not be confused with Air Ghana, a privately owned carrier that obtained its air operator’s certificate in 2014. Air Ghana currently operates ACMI cargo services for DHL Aviation SSA under the DHL Express brand. The company has also signaled plans to enter the passenger market and is working toward launching scheduled passenger flights in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and aircraft deliveries.

Ghana’s renewed push for a national airline comes as air travel demand across West Africa continues to grow, driven by trade, tourism, and improved regional connectivity. If executed successfully, a new flag carrier could strengthen Accra’s position as a regional aviation hub while supporting broader economic and connectivity goals.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com