Ghana has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Boeing Company and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada for the purchase of aeroplanes as part of efforts to relaunch an international airline.
Boeing and the Republic of Ghana announced on Tuesday that the country intends to re-launch an airline starting with the 787-9 Dreamliner. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding at the Dubai Air Show for three airplanes with a list price value of $877.5 million according to list prices. De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd on its part also said on Tuesday that the Republic of Ghana has agreed to buy six aircraft.
Ghana’s Minister of Aviation Joseph Kofi Adda disclosed that there is a growing demand for air travel to and from Ghana and believed the advanced 787-9 Dreamliner gives the country an efficient and flexible machine to launch a regional network and eventually serve international destinations in the future.
Kofi Adda says the carrier, to be based in Accra, would establish the capital city as a strategic hub that serves cities across West Africa. Future routes would include destinations in Europe, North America and Asia and the long-term plan is to open the airline to private investment and operation.
Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for the Boeing Company on his part said Africa boasts a growing, young workforce and vast natural resources and see the demand for air travel continuing to rise across the continent.
The 787-9 is part of a family of three airplanes that offer long ranges and unmatched fuel efficiency in the 200 to 350 seat market. The 787-9 can carry 296 passengers and fly up to 7,530 nautical miles (13,950 kms), while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20 to 25 percent compared to older airplanes.
To date, more than 400 million passengers have flown on the airplane.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services.
Canada’s Bombardier’s 70 seat de Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 is the latest and longest member of the successful Dash 8 family, with new engines, avionics and systems, a modified wing and stretched fuselage is essentially an all new aeroplane.
These new acquisitions are expected to boost the operations of the yet to be relaunched national airline of Ghana in the coming months.
