With the December 7 general elections fast approaching, domestic airlines are experiencing a significant rise in passenger traffic as voters finalize travel plans to their home constituencies.
Industry players report ramping up operations to meet the growing demand and prepare for an even sharper increase in bookings as election day nears.
Channel One News reports on how airlines are positioning themselves to capitalize on this election-driven travel surge.
Domestic airlines are playing a critical role in ensuring the smooth transportation of voters, election officials, and materials during this crucial period.
In an interview, the Chief Operating Officer of Africa World Airlines, Captain Kwasi Oteng, on Monday, December 2, attributed the increase in air traffic to the electioneering season and the fast-approaching festive period.
He assured the public of the airline’s readiness to manage the expected surge in demand.
“The increase in passenger traffic has already started, in the last couple of weeks, we have seen a significant rise in domestic travel around the country. So to manage that, we have actually made adjustments to our commercial schedule. This is something we are actually doing daily.
“With what we have noticed recently, we have actually adjusted the domestic schedule for example, for Tamale. We go there three times a day, we are now increasing that to five times a day and Kumasi presently we’re doing six a day we’re increasing that to eight.”
Captain Oteng also highlighted the airline’s collaboration with the Ghana Airport Company Limited to ensure passenger safety remains uncompromised during this busy period.
“AWA has the highest safety records of operations in Ghana. We take safety very seriously, so as far as the present time versus the time of the elections there’s no change. We have always operated on a safety level and that is one hundred per cent safety.”
Despite the airlines’ preparedness, a key challenge for voters who delay booking their flights lies in the limited operational hours of the Tamale and Kumasi airports, which do not currently provide 24-hour domestic flight services.
