Emirates ready to assist with new ‘Ghana Airlines’ | By Dominick Andoh | Dubai-based Emirates has expressed its willingness to help Ghana create a new national airline.
The airline is open to offering its expertise once the necessary structure and other details for the proposed airline are established.
Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, noted that Emirates, which has been serving Accra’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for two decades, has a cordial relationship with Ghana’s aviation sector regulator and other stakeholders, hence any invitation to support the new airline project would be considered.
“We are enjoying the relationship we currently have with all stakeholders. [As countries] our leadership have a very good relationship too. So I don’t think if Emirates has been asked to come and support, I don’t think Emirates would say no.”
“But we don’t have any information about what kind of deal. Is it a domestic airline? Is it a small airline? Is it something big? I did mention to the minister today that I would love to see a career that can compete with me because I like competition. Competition makes me think more, think way, way ahead,” Mr. Al Ghaith told AviationGhana on the sidelines of the inauguration of the first Emirates West Africa Travel Store in Accra, Ghana.
Ghana has been without a national airline since the demise of Ghana Airways in 2004 and the collapse of its successor, Ghana International Airlines, in 2010.
Since 2014, various governments have worked through the Transport Ministry to engage with aviation industry players, inviting bids from notable companies such as Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, South African Airways, Qatar Airways, and Ashanti Airlines, with no clear outcome.
The John Mahama-led government has taken a significant step towards re-establishing its national airline with the inauguration of a ten-member National Airline Task Force, chaired by Mr. Charles Asare, the former Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL).
The National Airline Task Force, inaugurated on May 7, 2025, is expected to develop a business model and operational framework for the National Airline.
The task force is also expected to coordinate engagements with potential strategic and technical partners, oversee regulatory compliance and certification processes, and facilitate the initial operational arrangements, including staffing, fleet acquisition, and route planning.
The Emirates Travel Store
Centrally located and easily accessible, the Emirates Travel Store in Accra unites personalised service and immersive brand experiences under one roof. Located at the vibrant and prestigious Stanbic Heights in Airport City, the store is the first travel retail store in West Africa, and the 13th globally.
The 310 m2 store is designed like an open-plan and luxurious lounge, in the airline’s signature light and airy colour palette with Ghaf Tree emblem adorning the walls.
The centerpiece of the store is the full-size Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge experience, bringing one of Emirates’ most iconic and widely renowned products closer to travellers from Ghana, and giving them a taste of onward travel experiences from Dubai.
Smart technologies such as the ‘selfie mirror’ snap pictures of travellers against scenic destination backdrops, inspiring customers to explore more; while self-service kiosks empower customers with a self-service touchpoint, minimising wait time and offering a faster service.
Emirates serves Accra with a daily flight, operated on a three-class Boeing 777.
Emirates ready to assist with new ‘Ghana Airlines’ | AviationGhana
