The Ghanaian private airline company Starbow has announced the beginning of its operation on the Accra-Lagos/Abuja route. The Chief Executive Officer of Starbow, Mr. Eric Antwi has hinted the airline’s intention to resume operations in Lagos and Abuja from April 2015 after it has acquired certification to fly to almost all the West African countries.
The Nigerian carriers Aero and Arik as well as indigenous Ghanaian carrier Africa World Airlines (AWA) are currently the dominant players on the route so passengers travelling by air between Accra and Lagos could soon enjoy low prices.
“Now we have the certification to fly to almost all the West African countries. We intend to resume operations to Lagos and Abuja from April after the approval in November last year,” Mr. Eric Antwi, Chief Executive Officer of Starbow told the B&FT.
Starbow is to take delivery of two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s this year in view of its West African expansion.
“It is faster than the BA146; it’s a comfortable and state-of-the-art aircraft. It is a 78-seat aircraft and it does not consume a lot of fuel,” Mr. Antwi said.
The Accra-Lagos/Abuja route is one of the most competitive within the sub-region. Starbow’s application to fly the route was in the works for two years until finally it has being approved last November.
Currently, a one-way ticket on the route costs between GH¢350 and GH¢630 while return tickets are selling between GH¢730 and GH¢1,340.
Starbow now becomes the second Ghanaian airline to be granted accreditation to ply the Lagos- Abuja route after African World Airline (AWA).