AWA’s Regional Expansion Gathers Pace | By Joojo Maapa
Africa World Airlines (AWA) has added a 102-seat Embraer E190 to its fleet, marking the start of an expansion programme aimed at increasing capacity in Ghana and extending the airline’s reach across West Africa.
The aircraft is the first of 10 E190s expected to be delivered to AWA through its major shareholder, Hainan Airlines, as the Ghanaian carrier moves beyond its traditional domestic market.
Speaking at the unveiling of the aircraft at Accra International Airport, Managing Director of the World Trade Centre, Yvonne Botchey, who represented AWA Founder and Chairman Togbe Afede XIV, said the delivery marked the beginning of the airline’s planned fleet expansion.
“Our name is the first clue that Africa World does not intend to restrict itself to domestic operations. And our new E-190 aircraft is the first of several that we intend to acquire over the next year to aid the fulfilment of our vision of supporting the development of Africa,” Togbe Afede XIV said in remarks delivered by Ms Botchey.
The fleet expansion comes as AWA seeks to build a stronger regional network and compete for traffic on some of West Africa’s key city pairs.
AWA currently operates regional flights from its Accra base to Lagos, Abuja, and Abidjan. The four-flights-a-week Accra-Abidjan service is expected to scale up as demand grows and its partnership with Etihad becomes fully operational. The route places AWA alongside Air Côte d’Ivoire, ASKY and Emirates on the corridor.
The new E190 gives AWA additional aircraft capacity to support that regional strategy while potentially improving seat availability on markets where demand is growing.
AWA’s expansion also comes as Ghana seeks stronger intra-African air connectivity. The airline was incorporated in 2010 and commenced flight operations on September 21, 2012. Togbe Afede expressed appreciation to government for its support since the airline’s establishment.
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