British Airways has announced it is increasing the number of flights between Accra and London, with the addition of three return services a week.
The additional flights, which would begin from October 29, 2023, would give Ghanaian travellers more options of flight times and airports, with additional flights operating in London Gatwick.
The airline already flies daily between Accra and London’s Heathrow Terminal 5.
The new flights will depart Accra at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, landing in London Gatwick at 4 a.m., and the Accra bound service will depart at midday and land in the capital at 6.35 p.m.
The Head of Sales for British Airways in charge of Africa, Middle East and South Asia, Maran Birger, who disclosed this in an interaction with journalists in Accra on Wednesday, said the Africa and Accra routes and markets remained a priority to British Airways.
“Restoring our Africa network after the pandemic gave us an opportunity to carefully consider the routes and regions where there was potential for growth. Accra was one of those routes and Africa is one of those regions,” he stated.
He added that Gatwick provided Ghanaian expatriates and UK holiday makers with an alternative gateway from London, and premium customers, Gold and Silver Executive Club members could ease their way into holidays or family visits in the recently refurbished lounges.
“The new services also add cargo capacity on the route, increasing opportunities for Ghanaian exporters to quickly get perishables and other goods to market through IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, British Airways’ parent company,” Mr Birger stated.
He said the company had procured new planes, Triple 7, with 330 seating capacity for the new flights between Accra and Gatwick.
Mr Birger said the British Airways had enhanced the entertainment facilities in its planes and increased the passenger seats of the company by thirty per cent.
To mark the start of the new services, British Airways, which has served Ghana for over 85 years, was offering special fares to travellers from Gatwick to Accra.
“Customers on these flights will also soon start to see the new British Airways’ uniform as cabin crew, pilots and check-in agents switch over from their current Julien MacDonald uniforms,” Mr Birger stated.
Mr Birger said the outlook for British Airways looked bright as the company had returned to the path of profitability post its first profit last year after the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE