International airline travels to and from the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) have increased enormously between the years 2013 and 2015, as a result of the operation of new entrants into the sector and increased flight frequency of existing airlines. Local aircraft travel, on the other hand, is continually rising as a result of high demand, reliable services and competitive air fares offered to travelers.
Pursuing the goal of making Ghana the gateway to Africa and an aviation hub in the West African sub-region, management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) unveiled a programme to bring KIA at par with some of the best airports in the world in terms of infrastructure, security and services. Hence, the KIA is undergoing expansion works to be able to accommodate more airlines and passenger traffic.
The GACL at its second annual general meeting announced its decision to source and invest over US$600million in the next three years “to enhance and expand our airport infrastructure and services.” According to Mr Charles Kwame Asare, Managing Director of the GACL
This has been occasioned by the recent promulgation of the Airport Tax (Amendment) 2013 Act 858 which enables the GACL to retain a 100% tariff.
“This development will improve GACL’s ability to leverage on its potential income to raise funding to improve international and domestic air travel facilities, human resources, build new airports and thereby raise the image of Ghana as a favorable investment destination’, the Managing Director said.
“Strategies are underway to increase capacity and improve the operating efficiencies of the country’s airports at KIA, Kumasi, Tamale and Sunyani by upgrading and expanding infrastructure and service facilities, and also develop new regional aerodromes”, said Mr MacDavids Torgbor Torto, Director of Projects at the GACL.
“Through joint ventures with private sector players and public private partnerships, we will pursue opportunities in commercial real estate such as offices, hotels, retail shopping malls, entertainment centres, car parks and other airport related development on the landside of our airports,” Mr MacDavids Torto said.
The aviation sector plays an important role in the global economy by providing connectivity through the only rapid worldwide transport network. The links made between cities and markets produce a major infrastructural asset that facilitates activities that enhance a nation’s productivity.
In doing so, the direct and wider impact on jobs and GDP globally is enormous—contributing over 22 million jobs and US$1.4 trillion in GDP. Moreover, the sector makes contributions to other industries by facilitating their growth and supporting their operations.
With a significant proportion of international tourists depending on air transport, the aviation industry supports 34.5 million jobs within tourism globally, contributing an estimated US$762 billion a year to world GDP. Airlines transported 2.8 billion passengers and 47.6 million metric tonnes of air cargo in 2011, connecting the world’s cities with 36,000 routes.
The economic importance of air travel cannot be over stated and the GACL’s move is definitely one long overdue.