African World Airlines (AWA), an indigenous airline, says in spite of the harsh economic challenges, it is ready to deepen its domestic operations and expand to other African countries come January next year.
Destinations on the radar include Douala, Cameroon; Monrovia, Liberia; Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Domestic airlines have been hit with operational challenges following the sharp depreciation of the cedi this year. About 80 per cent of AWA’s input costs are dollar-denominated. In addition to tax measures and other charges, it has led to rising cost of operations.
On the regional front, AWA’s planned start flights to other African countries have been hampered by the Ebola virus scare in West Africa but management of the airline said they had only postponed the start, but not abandoned the vision.
The conditions have forced some domestic and international airlines to pull out, downsize or diversify their operations into the sub-region in an attempt to contain the situation.
But the Chief Operating Officer of AWA, Mr Apiigy Afenu, said at a press soiree to mark the airline’s second anniversary celebration which fell on September 21 that in spite of the challenges, AWA was still committed to breaking into the dynamic and ever growing African market.
“Despite the challenges, we are confident because AWA is the best opportunity to link trade, commerce, oil and gas, tourism in safety and security to the world,” Mr Afenu said.
He said in addition to increasing spending on more routes and aircraft, it would also train pilots, cabin crew, safety and quality staff as well as front line staff.
The airline, which currently has three new aircrafts in excellent working condition, is preparing to take delivery of another in February next year.
The COO said flying the Takoradi route would also come on board by the close of the year, in addition to its twice a day flights to Kumasi, Tamale and Lagos in Nigeria, operating about 110 flights a week.
Reward to loyal customers
To show appreciation to its customers, AWA is encouraging the public to fly four times with the airline on any of its destinations and get an additional free flight on any route.
The package, which has been named the “fly-4-free” allows the customer to get one free ticket after flying four times within a specified duration.
Mr Afenu said that was not a promotion but a frequent-flyer programme which would become a permanent feature for all customers and expanded onto its African routes.
Ebola preparedness
The airline is the only local airline which voluntarily participated in a recent Ebola preparedness simulation, from which it had coded lessons.
The Business Development Manager of the airline, Mr Ridwane Adamou, said AWA provided hand sanitisers to all passengers aboard its flight and made protective materials such as hand gloves available to its staff.
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